Just a couple of quick question....
Was the emerging doctrine of Air-Sea Battle (the deterrence portion of the concept) visible in the latest crisis with N. Korea?
If it was I didn't see it.
Let's face it. As a means of deterrence in a rapidly evolving area of concern, only Navy ships with aircraft or Marines aboard are a credible threat...only they have the persistence or the capability to send the proper message while diplomats either de-escalate events or shape the international community for upcoming hostilities.
Did you notice the lack of Theater Entry (or more precisely the need for it if we actually went to war)?
That concept indicates a need to fight your way not to a shoreline but actually into your area of operations.
The last war where that was an actual concern could possibly be WW2 with the Japanese...but even in those actions it was simply blue water warfare with serious island hopping ---the theater was the war...how the they came up with that concept is beyond me...
Two concepts...two strike outs. Actual deterrence comes from fielding technologically advanced, hardened forces capable of conducting the full spectrum of operations. These concepts only seek to cover gaps and make allowances for not funding our military properly.
Well Air-Sea Battle is still an emerging concept, not doctrine yet. And I doubt both South Korea and the US are willing to perform a "regime changing" invasion. For now, both the US and South Korea seem set for just counter striking whenever the NORKORs get antsy again, so the emphasis is striking power as most NORKOR targets (artillery positions) are mostly known and valid targets - that's known and comfortable Cold War doctrine.
ReplyDeleteSouth Korea is terrified of two things; a NORKOR (dirty bomb) nuclear attack and having to pay for an entire impoverished nation.
So while everyone wants the NORKOR dictators to go, nobody wants - and can afford - to take over.
I fear that after the joint US-South Korean exercise(s) are over, it will all simmer down and it will be - tense - business as usual.