Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid DominanceUllman, Harlan
History
Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance
Ullman, Harlan
Rapid dominance (Military science)
Shock and awe are actions that create fears, dangers, and destruction
that are incompre-hensible to the people at large, specific
elements/sectors of the threat society, or the leadership. Nature in
the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, uncontrolled
fires, famine, and disease can engender Shock and Awe. The ultimate
military application of Shock and Awe was the use of two atomic
weapons against Japan in WWII. The Shock and Awe that resulted from
the use of these weapons not only brought an abrupt end to the war
with Japan (through unconditional surrender), but have deterred the
further use of these weapons for over 50 years. Not unexpectedly,
these events did not stop the proliferation or increase in the
destructive power of these weapons by a factor of ten. The holocaust
was a state policy of Shock and Awe that stunned the world in its
brutality and inhumanity. Yet it has not deterred the world from
executing or tolerating atrocities of equal brutality and inhumanity
(Cambodia, Syria, Rwanda, etc.). Similar applications of Shock and Awe
have differing toleration levels and impacts depending on the
environment and political system against which it is applied. As an
example, the massive bombing raids of WWII by Germany and the U.S. did
not result in a sufficient level of Shock and Awe to end the fighting.
The fear of the unknown created by the atomic attacks rather than
their actual destruction was the deciding factor in that theater. The
B-52 raids in Vietnam provided localized elements of Shock and Awe,
but until applied to the capital city of Hanoi, had no impact toward
war termination. When applied in concentrated repetitive strikes in
November/December of 1972 under _Operation Rolling Thunder III_, the
cease fire followed in short order. In fact, throughout history there
have been weapons and tactics designed to create varying degrees of
Shock and Awe. While there has always been shock, awe, and fear
associated with warfare, unless the fear or losses are focused and
great enough, a quick cessation of hostilities under favorable terms
is not certain. How to apply elements of Shock and Awe against rogue
states, terrorist elements, international drug and crime cartels, as
well as in the more traditional MRCs and LRCs needs much further study
and analysis. Shock and awe, to reach the level required to achieve
Rapid Dominance, must also bring fear to those who are in charge. It
must be applied quickly, decisively, and preferably with impunity
(such as stealth bombing with air superiority). The element of
impunity, that is the other side is powerless to stop the damage, is a
key element of this strategy. If on the other hand attacks are
directed at the general public a backlash could be unleased because of
the excessive and brutal losses of innocent civilians.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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