Modern War and America’s New Enemies

Modern War and America’s New Enemies

Following the Vietnam conflict a new theory of war begins to emerge in the United States. This theory views war in the modem world as a political undertaking in which victory depends on the ability of the combatants to capture hold the moral high ground before a global audience. New high tech weapons and a new tactical doctrine make it possible to implement this "modem war" theory. Focusing on the post 9/11 war in Afghanistan, this paper examines the use of modem war concepts as a tool for conducting low intensity war against extremist political groups such as Al Qaeda. Consideration is also given to how such groups might employ a kind of poor man's version of modem war against a technologically developed society such as the United States.