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ASPI suggests
Posted By The Editors on August 26, 2013 @ 14:34
Following what was probably a chemical weapon attack in Syria last week, the White House appears to be moving closer to possible military action (and here). But while there is tremendous pressure on President Obama to act decisively, there appear to be very few good military options. Eliot Cohen writes:
The temptation here is to follow the Clinton administration’s course — a futile salvo of cruise missiles, followed by self-congratulation and an attempt to change the topic. It would not work here. A minority regime fighting for its life, as Bashar al-Assad’s is, can weather a couple of dozen big bangs. More important, no one — friends, enemies or neutrals — would be fooled. As weak as the United States now appears in the region and beyond, we would look weaker yet if we chose to act ineffectively. A bout of therapeutic bombing is an even more feckless course of action than a principled refusal to act altogether.
With the expansion of Chinese power, and with nuclear strategy and deterrence again becoming relevant to the Asian great-power game, the US requires a wider range of options to bolster Extended Nuclear Deterrence (END). As such, Washington may have to seriously consider re-introducing tactical nuclear weapons into the Pacific.
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[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/6376781117_7556741e55_b.jpg
[2] probably a chemical weapon attack in Syria last week: http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/another-syria-chemical-attack-8934
[3] White House appears to be moving closer to possible military action: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/26/world/middleeast/syria-says-un-will-get-access-to-site-of-possible-chemical-attack.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
[4] here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323407104579034633663263254.html
[5] Eliot Cohen writes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/syria-will-require-more-than-cruise-missiles/2013/08/25/8c8877b8-0daf-11e3-85b6-d27422650fd5_story.html
[6] follow the Clinton administration’s course: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/iraq/timeline/090496.htm
[7] futile salvo of cruise missiles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/iraq/timeline/062793.htm
[8] the Great Defence Debate: http://www.aspi.org.au/events/upcomingeventDetails.aspx?eid=513
[9] here: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-to-comment/
[10] AH-64E Apache combat helicopters from the US: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/08/22/ri-military-delegation-visits-boeing-production-center-arizona.html
[11] argues: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesias-problematic-defence-procurement-priorities/
[12] Japan’s new Izumo helicopter destroyer: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/?s=carrier
[13] we needn’t get too alarmed, its not an aircraft carrier: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/forum/politics_and_economy/east_asia/AJ201308220044?fb_action_ids=10100224207374026&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7b%2210100224207374026%22%3A155130148016092%7d&action_type_map=%7b%2210100224207374026%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7d&action_ref_map
[14] long read in the latest Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-killing-machines-how-to-think-about-drones/309434/?single_page=true
[15] media embedding of journalists with the ADF: http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/LWSC/Our-publications/Working-Papers/WP141
[16] podcast of John Nagl’s recent ANU presentation: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/news-events/podcasts/eating-soup-knife-0#.UhajS9KnpS5
[17] downsizing the military will also limit the UK’s options: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130822/DEFREG01/308220013
[18] US must step up: http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/Perspective/RSIS1572013.pdf
[19] Abdulsalam Haykal: https://www.aspistrategist.org.auAbdulsalam Hayka