Definition of conventional war strategies

Review of Conventional Deterrence by John J. Mearsheimer

This book clearly defines three modes of conventional war: 1) limited territorial engagements for border regions and disputed territories (e.g. the Franco-German disputes over Alsace-Lorriane); 2) total wars of attrition, in which entire industrial economies are mobilized over an extended front (e.g. WWI); 3) the blitzkrieg, in which supply lines and communications are cut so that the entire structure of an enemy crumbles and can be quickly overrun (e.g. WWII). As far as it goes, this is very interesting and brilliantly described. Mearsheimer offers a number of detailed historical case studies to illustrate his points.

However, the book essentially stops at the tactics and strategies developed just before and during World War II. It does not cover guerilla wars, as we saw in Vietnam and saw recently in Iraq with the suicide bombers. While this might be called a new kind of war of attrition, it does not really fit into the framework that Mearsheimer presented, as the country is already occupied, there is no front, and the forces are imbalanced, sometimes heavily. Furthermore, the full implications of drone warfare (precision-guided munitions) go unmentioned, in large part because the book was written before they were invented and perfected.

While I enjoyed the analysis of the three types above, they are principally of historical interest now. I was looking for the uncovered areas. Nonetheless, this is an excellent book and well worth the read.