The Impact of Environmental Protection on the Operational Commander's Warfighting Decisions
2006
Morrissey, Shawn B.
The increasing influence of environmental groups coupled with the public's heightened environmental awareness is placing new constraints on the operational commander's warfighting decisions. Selected environmental agreements are briefly discussed to demonstrate how environmental issues have been evolving. A review of environmental damage from past conflicts is undertaken with a brief focus on the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. Nuclear issues, intelligence and targeting are broadly discussed in the context of their impact on environmental decisions. The main topic is the balance the commander must make between warfighting decisions and potential environmental damage which results from those decisions. Environmental protection is becoming an increasingly important aspect of warfare decisions. The commander and his staff must be prepared to address this issue during future conflicts through use of weapons and target control and proper dissemination of environmental protection guidance in appropriate operations orders and plans.
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