Success in Battle—Failure in War

Abstract

This essay addresses the likelihood of “success” in two dimensions: (1) success in war and (2) success on the battlefield. The terms “war” and “battle” are often used interchangeably and the men and women who won the battles are often told that the war was lost. As a polity discusses the Just War Tradition (JWT) in relationship to a forthcoming war, the term “success” is squishy, malleable, quantifiable only in comparative terms, and politically charged. The definition of battles is the win and loss of men, material, and moral. These can be measured. The two terms should not be used carelessly, and the relationship between the two needs to be more carefully considered.

Keywords:

• just war
• likelihood of success
• Laws of Armed Conflict
• Rules of Engagement
• balance of power
• insurgency
• moral injury

Notes

1 See https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/143214-the-soldier-is-the-army-no-army-is-better-than.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pauletta Otis

Pauletta Otis (PhD) has been Professor of Security Studies for the US Marine Corps University since 2006. Dr. Otis has special expertise in the study of sub-national violence and combines both theoretical and operational experience and expertise. She holds graduate degrees in Anthropology, Political Science, and International Studies and has conducted field research in conflict situations in South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the eastern Mediterranean. Her many publications include topics concerning the interface between religion and conflict.