Science Fiction and Reality: The Economist on the Armies of the Future
As the Pentagon explores the army’s future, The Economist emphasizes the need for an army more capable of engaging locally while better prepared technologically for an uncertain future. Success against the Taliban and Saddam Hussein point to the effectiveness of western armies in waging open war, but chaos in the aftermath highlights military shortcomings in re-constructive competence. More sophisticated weapons and so-called “cyborg soldiers” to the taste of Donald Rumsfeld, might help against a belligerent Russia or China in the future. However, terrorism and asymmetric warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, may compel Robert Gates to opt for smarter troops, which train and work more effectively with local allies.
The Economist, October 25, 2007
