How Does the “Western Way of War” Influence Current Us Actions in Iraq and Afghanistan?
- Submitted by: JMP1971
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- Category: History
- Date Submitted: 02/01/2013 01:32 PM
- Pages: 4
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Over time, cultures develop war fighting characteristics that are unique to that culture. Western nations have developed and practiced a method of warfare that has allowed them to dominate conflicts in which they have engaged. Military historian Geoffrey Parker has theorized that reliance on superior technology, disciplined forces, and aggressive military tradition; coupled with constant innovation and a system to finance campaigns are hallmarks of this “Western way of war”. The use of superior technology, highly disciplined forces, and constant innovation by the United States demonstrates the continuing influence the “Western way of war” has on recent operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In The Cambridge History of Warfare, Parker theorizes that armies of western nations have been historically receptive to and relied upon superior technology, often to counter numerical disadvantage on the battlefield (1). Examples of this fundamental of Parker’s theory can be found throughout history. During the Battle of Lechfeld in 955 AD, superior weaponry and discipline allowed a significantly outnumbered force of Germanic knights to defeat the larger Magyar invasion force. The heavy armor and weapons of the Germanic forces proved no match for the lightly equipped forces of the nomadic Magyars (2). Later, the use of metal weapons and firearms provided European nations a technological edge that allowed them to conquer the Americas with much smaller forces than those of the indigenous people. The Spanish, for example, were able to achieve remarkable victories over the Aztecs and Incas through the use of superior military and naval technology (3). Most recently in 2003, technologically superior ground and air forces used in the invasion of Iraq allowed five U.S. and Allied ground divisions to quickly defeat twenty three defending Iraqi ground divisions. Modern armored vehicles equipped with longer range weaponry and all weather sighting systems used by the United States....
In The Cambridge History of Warfare, Parker theorizes that armies of western nations have been historically receptive to and relied upon superior technology, often to counter numerical disadvantage on the battlefield (1). Examples of this fundamental of Parker’s theory can be found throughout history. During the Battle of Lechfeld in 955 AD, superior weaponry and discipline allowed a significantly outnumbered force of Germanic knights to defeat the larger Magyar invasion force. The heavy armor and weapons of the Germanic forces proved no match for the lightly equipped forces of the nomadic Magyars (2). Later, the use of metal weapons and firearms provided European nations a technological edge that allowed them to conquer the Americas with much smaller forces than those of the indigenous people. The Spanish, for example, were able to achieve remarkable victories over the Aztecs and Incas through the use of superior military and naval technology (3). Most recently in 2003, technologically superior ground and air forces used in the invasion of Iraq allowed five U.S. and Allied ground divisions to quickly defeat twenty three defending Iraqi ground divisions. Modern armored vehicles equipped with longer range weaponry and all weather sighting systems used by the United States....