The Iraq Wars and America's Military Revolution

This book is a comprehensive study of the Iraq Wars in the context of the revolution in military affairs debate.

Keith L. Shimko (Author)

9780521128841, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 April 2010

262 pages, 2 b/w illus. 2 maps
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.37 kg

'Keith L. Shimko has written a clear and carefully nuanced work on the emergence of the American revolution in military affairs. It should be read by all interested in current defense issues.' Williamson Murray, Ohio State University

Many saw the United States' decisive victory in Desert Storm (1991) as not only vindication of American defense policy since Vietnam but also confirmation of a revolution in military affairs (RMA). Just as information-age technologies were revolutionizing civilian life, the Gulf War appeared to reflect similarly profound changes in warfare. A debate has raged ever since about a contemporary RMA and its implications for American defense policy. Addressing these issues, The Iraq Wars and America's Military Revolution is a comprehensive study of the Iraq Wars in the context of the RMA debate. Focusing on the creation of a reconnaissance-strike complex and conceptions of parallel or nonlinear warfare, Keith L. Shimko finds a persuasive case for a contemporary RMA while recognizing its limitations as well as promise.

1. Military revolutions and the Iraq wars
2. From Vietnam to Iraq - the rebirth of American military power and the origins of an RMA
3. The first Iraq War, 1991 - a revolution dawns?
4. The Iraq interregnum, 1991–2000
5. Afghanistan and the second Iraq War, 2001–3 - a revolution confirmed?
6. The third Iraq War, 2003–? - a revolution denied?
Conclusion: the future of America's military revolution.

Subject Areas: Military intelligence [JWKF], Theory of warfare & military science [JWA], Politics & government [JP], Iraq War [HBWS5]