ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the lessons of the Gulf War from a high–level, strategic defense perspective. The Gulf War was over; a complicated and frustrating period of postwar diplomacy had begun. The Gulf War indeed represented a test case of these post-cold war concepts. The task of maintaining effectiveness—a well-trained, highly motivated military establishment whose personnel, leaders, and equipment are truly ready for war—is far more than an exercise in quantification. A military strategy predicated on fighting quick regional wars demands high–readiness forces because the military may be forced to enter such conflicts on short notice. This study deals with relatively narrow military issues—the performance of specific weapons systems, the value of military strategy, the conduct of the war. The United States can significantly reduce the threat to its own forces posed by these unconventional weapons by a vigorous, international nonproliferation policy and by continued investments in protective measures, antimissile systems, and overall technological superiority.
