Indirect Approach to Warfare

In war, if subduing an enemy's moral force offers three times the potential leverage as defeating his physical forces, then that greater leverage needs to be pursued. As a minimum both forces need to be pursued in equal measure. Typically we describe an opponent's moral force as: resolve, will, or will to resist; but what are the best methods, potential approaches, and means for attacking the will of an opponent? The methodology of this paper combines literature review and case study using both inductive and deductive reasoning in the development of a new concept. This concept combines psychological effects and force application. The research develops along the lines that there are essentially two great forces in warfare-the physical and the moral. These two forces suggest two distinct approaches to warfare at the strategic level. One a "direct" approach, concentrating on the opponent's physical forces, and the other an "indirect" approach, focusing on moral forces. Both of these approaches have been tried in history, with a noted lack of emphasis on an indirect approach. This paper will attempt to give new emphasis to the indirect approach by conveying a better appreciation for the application of psychological effects as they pertain within a context of strategic air targets. This paper suggests something new, "destructive PSYOPs" as a potential means for attacking an enemy's moral forces.