03692oam 2200637 a 450 991069433050332120110503093958.0(CKB)5470000002362751(OCoLC)173666345(EXLCZ)99547000000236275120071004d2007 ua 0engurbn|||||||||txtrdacontentcrdamediacrrdacarrierAmerican grand strategy for Latin America in the age of resentment /Gabriel Marcella[Carlisle Barracks, PA] :[Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College],[2007]vi, 65 pages digital, PDF fileSecurity Issues in the Western HemisphereTitle from title screen (viewed Jan. 16, 2007)."September 2007."9781584873105 1584873108 Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-65).Introduction -- Interpretation of an enduring metaphor -- Evolutionary signposts -- Introspect -- The crossroads -- Conclusion.Since the 1980s, the US military has placed great emphasis on the theories and concepts of Clausewitz. Concomitantly, a tremendous emphasis has been placed in doctrine on the consideration of a center of gravity (COG) as a central element of campaign planning. The doctrinal definitions of the COG are still imperfect, but the concept arguably serves as an effective tool for focusing military effort to win decisively in major operations or campaigns. Although the American military performs brilliantly in decisive operations, the difficulties it has faced in Iraq and Afghanistan suggest that a doctrinal renaissance is in order. This paper examines the potential for employing the COG concept in areas beyond the realm of decisive operations. After examining the concept's evolution, present doctrinal manifestations, and some previous proposals for future employment, the author opines that the COG's role in American military thinking is flawed and must be reconsidered entirely. To that end, three options are offered for evolving the COG, with a specific recommendation that it would be most effective if removed from doctrine and considered as an abstract concept, rather than a practical one.Military doctrineUnited StatesEvaluationStrategyEvaluationMilitary planningUnited StatesEvaluationDoctrines militairesÉtats-UnisÉvaluationStratégieÉvaluationPlanification militaireÉtats-UnisÉvaluationInfluence (Literary, artistic, etc.)fast(OCoLC)fst00972484Military planningEvaluationfast(OCoLC)fst01021378Latin AmericaPolitics and government1980-United StatesRelationsLatin AmericaLatin AmericaRelationsUnited StatesMilitary doctrineEvaluation.StrategyEvaluation.Military planningEvaluation.Doctrines militairesÉvaluation.StratégieÉvaluation.Planification militaireÉvaluation.Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.)Military planningEvaluation.Marcella Gabriel1070828Army War College (U.S.).Strategic Studies Institute.GPOGPOGAOGPOBOOK9910694330503321American grand strategy for Latin America in the age of resentment3492580UNINA