THEWHY
AND
How
OFLIMITEDWAR
Colonel WilliamE. LeGro, Um”tedStstee Arms
T
HERE are several current perceptions of what limited
war ie, and there is widespread concern about what
keeps a limited war from expanding,
ezcaIating, or explod-
ing. One concept has had a most profound influence on the
way Americans have been permitted to fight the war in
Vietnam. It is the theory which holds that, because of the
great military capabilities poesessed by the major powers
today, rigid rules must be imposed to govern the means
‘ employed against a precisely defined target list lest the
war sharply
eecalate into a general holocaust. This concept
empheeizes Capabilities almost to the exclusion of national
intere@ and intentions.
The other concept has lees current support. It holds that
limited war is limited because of limited objectives. It em-
phasizes the idee that, as long as vital interests of great
powere are not challenged, the war is likely to remain limited
despite the level or types of force applied. A comparison of
these concepts may develop some conclusions about how
military leaders should proceed after our political leadership
decides that military force will be applied in the furtherance
of US objective.
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tililltwy Revisw
