- The U.S. is not the world's policeman - Involvement of U.S. Forces must be justified as essential to vital U.S. security interests - Support of Congress and People is a necessary prerequisite - Avoid commitment of ground forces - Offer instead U.S. intelligence, air lift, sea lift, logistics support, etc. - Avoid risk of loss of U.S. lives at almost all costs - Ensure decisive force applied for mission assigned - Rules of Engagement allow U.S. forces to defend themselves aggressively - Minimize civilian casualties, loss of life, and collateral damage - Specify achievable mission objectives up front with an end in the not-too-distant future sight before committing - U.S. led coalition force preferred-U.S. Forces remain under U.S. Command. These political restraints may limit the application of Rapid Dominance to Major and Minor Regional Conflicts. This is an issue that needs further exploration and analysis. What is Rapid Dominance? Rapid Dominance is the full use of capabilities within a system of systems that can decisively impact events requiring the application of military/defense resources through affecting the adversary's will. Rapid Dominance envisions execution in real or near real time to counter actions or intentions deemed detrimental to U.S. interests. On one end of the spectrum, Rapid Dominance would introduce a regime of Shock and Awe in areas of high value to the threatening individual, group, or state. In many cases the prior knowledge of credible U.S. Rapid Dominance capabilities would act as a deterrent. Rapid Dominance would ensure favorable early resolution of issues at minimal loss of lives and collateral damage. The concept ideally should be able to impact adversarial situations that apply across the board, addressing high-, mid-, low-, and no-technology threats. Some of these aims may not be achievable given the political and technology constraints, but need to be explored.