Accession Number:

ADA288947

Title:

Tactical Pursuit and the Moral Domain: Why Armies Lack the Will to Pursue.

Descriptive Note:

Monograph rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Abbott, Frank J.

Report Date:

1993-12-17

Pagination or Media Count:

64.0

Abstract:

This monograph discusses the moral factors of warfare as they apply to the tactical pursuit. Throughout Western military history, there have been battles in which a victorious army had the opportunity to pursue, but chose to allow the enemy to escape. In many cases, the victors did not conduct an energetic pursuit because they lacked the will to do so. The monograph first reviews some non-moral reasons why battlefield victors choose not to pursue. The monograph then examines the factors that influence mans will in wartime. Next, the monograph looks at the moral reasons why vigorous pursuits did not happen after Gettysburg, El Alamein, and the Desert Storm ground offensive. Lastly, the monograph offers recommendations for todays U.S. Army in addressing the problems of the tactical pursuit and the moral domain. The monograph concludes that in many cases armies do not conduct vigorous tactical pursuits because their leaders and soldiers lack the will to pursue. This lack of will allows the enemy to escape and fight again. Leaders must understand and address the influences that deter this will so that the U.S. Army can fully exploit its battlefield victories.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY HISTORY
• *ETHICS
• *MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY
• MILITARY OPERATIONS
• GROUND LEVEL
• WARFARE
• IRAQ
• KUWAIT
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• BATTLEFIELDS
• CASE STUDIES
• DOCUMENTS
• ENEMY
• BATTLES
• ESCAPE SYSTEMS

Subject Categories:

• Psychology
• Military Forces and Organizations
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE