Are Americans and Their Cultural Values Adaptable to the Concept and Techniques of Unconventional Warfare?

Abstract

Relations of values to unconventional warfare may be analyzed at three levels: decision-making and policy at the national level, generalized public opinion, formation and use of special military forces. The main American values are not incompatible with unconventional warfare at the opera tional level, but conflicts of values do result in uncertainty and ambiguity in national policy. Certain common beliefs and stereotypes about unconventional warfare are in need of crit ical examination. American value systems tend to stress ethical individualism and active mastery of life. Values of technical competence and achievement would be important in the behavior of the highly selected and specially trained American forces which would participate in unconventional warfare. Convictions concerning the justice of the nation's position, coupled with group involvement and the values attached to teamwork, are important in the behavior of American forces. Understanding of the complex national value pattern can aid in determining basic policy concerning unconventional warfare.