Strategic Studies Institute
United States Army War College

Publications Tagged: Gray

Added March 01, 2006

Irregular Enemies and the Essence of Strategy: Can the American Way of War Adapt? Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

At present and probably for some years to come, America's enemies are of an irregular character. These irregular enemies necessarily wage war in modes that are largely unconventional.

Added February 01, 2006

Recognizing and Understanding Revolutionary Change in Warfare: The Sovereignty of Context. Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) was the most widely used, and abused, acronym in the U.S. defense community in the 1990s. Subsequently, transformation has superseded it as the preferred term of art. For the better part of 2 decades, American defense professionals have been excited by the prospect of effecting a revolutionary change in the conduct and character of warfare.

Added April 01, 2005

Transformation and Strategic Surprise. Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

The U.S. Armed forces may be attempting to effect the wrong transformation. What the country needs is military power that is not only superior at warfare, but also can win wars and the peace that follows--and those are strategic and political competencies.

Added August 01, 2003

Maintaining Effective Deterrence. Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

Today there is a sense that terrorism has rendered deterrence obsolete and forced the United States to substitute preemption for it. The author provides both a conceptual framework for understanding deterrence or, more accurately, the psychology of deterrence and policy guidance on how the United States can most effectively use it. The author concludes that an adaptable and flexible military with robust landpower is the only tool that can maintain deterrence.

Added April 01, 2002

Defining and Achieving Decisive Victory. Authored by Dr. Colin S. Gray.

The author explores the concept of victory in the war in terrorism, but he does so by placing it within the larger currents of change that are sweeping the global security environment. He contends that the time-tested idea of decisive victory is still an important one, but must be designed very carefully in this dangerous new world.