U.s. Army War College

War No Longer Exists (Defense) U.s. Army War College

In 2008, Britain?s General Rupert Smith argued that ?war no longer exists.? He argues that while armed conflict is an enduring part of human existence, interstate industrial wars fought between formations on a field of battle are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, Smith does not present any research data supporting his thesis. However, the preponderance of research studies find interstate wars are an increasingly small minority of the conflict around the world. The national strategic/defense policies of the United States, U. K., Germany, and Australia also indicate that intrastate war is the predominant type of war today. Unfortunately, the procurement policies and force structures of these countries are not always aligned with this view. Despite severe budget constraints, America?s continues to purchase high-tech ships and aircraft in greater numbers than the rest of the world combined. In the future, the United States should match its strategic means with its increasingly Smithian ends and seek to expand ways that sensibly utilize those means, especially in Africa.