This is the first comprehensive discussion, from the defense planning point of view, of the problems of limited wars such as the Korean War and those confronting the United States in Southeast Asia today. It deals with the military, technical and policy planning aspects of the key question: “If strategy dictates defensive limited war as part of our military policy, then how do we build and use armed forces to carry out that strategy effectively?” The author's unique background, first with the Institute for Defense Analyses, and currently as Special Assistant, Counterinsurgency, in the Office of the Secretary of defense, suggests the importance of his contribution in the widening public discussion in thesis field treat the international-political or historical aspects of limited war. Because they do not confront the essential military policy questions involved, the public, industry and defense planners continue to face confusing alternatives regarding military force structure. This book will help to meet the need for clarification.
Limited War and American Defense Policy will be especially important for the military, civilian, research, and industrial members of the defense community, the operations and systems analyst, and students and practitioners of public administration and policy making. Beyond these specialists, however, a broad audience for the book will most certainly be found amongst those concerned with American foreign policy and public affairs, for the book is both well written and highly informative.
