Technology As A Crutch

A. Introduction

War is a constant issue in the world today, and through the history of the world. With this fact in mind it is important to know why and how wars happen, and why they fail or succeed in the goals for which they are fought. Many wars do not accomplish their goals due to the strategy pushed into battle by an outside force, politics, economics, ethics, or any other force. Many of the most successful wars were unhindered by the leash that all these factors hold on war. One of the biggest factors in warfare is the technology used to advance a conflict, this technology is in direct relation to the success of a war. As technology becomes more and more advanced it does not become easier to wage a successful war, innovation is needed for a truly successful campaign.. This is an important issue in the modern day with the military being a high percentage of the budgets of many countries, on what could be seen as an increase in the ability to lose a war.

The assertion that technology does not increase the success of wars is clearly shown through analysis of wars throughout history Ð'- with many successes being shown in wars with less technology oftentimes begin more successful, or experiencing more drastic events. The success rate decreases of wars has slowly decreased over time as the level of technology has constantly increased.. To illustrate the point wars through history, from the distant past of Genghis Khan to the modern day war being waged in Iraq, will be analyzed through their limits and use of technology, and to some extent their success Ð'- though it is hard to define the success of any war. By analyzing wars from ancient times to the modern age of information warfare, the use of technology and its effect on success of the wars it is employed in can be illustrated as not being a modern issue, but one that has been present through history.

B. Genghis Khan

As an example of success in warfare, the conquest of Genghis Khan stands as a leading military action. Through his use of military strategy, and innovation Genghis Khan accomplished the feat of binging together the second largest empire in history. This was not accomplished through the use of technology to gain an upper hand, but through the use of the same technology available to his enemies, employed in a new way that enabled such a massive conquest. Throughout his military campaigns there were many examples of Khan's military brilliance which will be highlighted as success without the supposed advantage of advanced technology.

Genghis Khan's innovation was a product of his situation. He had not inherited leadership, or the support of an established dynasty, so Khan learned from experience in battle and in leadership. This worked to his advantage as he was not stuck in the similar approaches taken by leaders who had not been the instigators of their own military might, and proceeded to use traditional methods of warfare. One of the finest examples of the innovation that the Khan's upbringing afforded him was the tactic of diverting rivers. While many rival leaders had siege machines, the Khan's relatively new and small army did not have this luxury, so necessity was the mother of a new weapon, the power of nature. In his first use of this tactic, the river actually wiped out the Khan's own camp, but his army's skill grew, this innovated siege tactic was used to devastating effect. This was simply the beginning of a campaign that would flash like lightning on the world as Khan's horde would conquer from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea in the next thirty years.

The innovation present during this campaign was not limited to military tactics Ð'- Khan made innovations in how his army traveled, and how it progressed through the unknown lands it encountered. This strategy eliminated the need for a supply line that hampered most armies, and this was not through the use of some invention, but through rudimentary means that the every Mongol had available to them. To begin, the Mongol army was comprised of one hundred percent cavalry, which increased mobility exponentially, while at the same time decreasing the supplies needed to maintain troops walking long distances. The supplies necessary to feed horses were abundant naturally. The horses also provided a means of moving supplies Ð'- through milking , and if necessary slaughtering the extra mounts always traveling with the army. Other sources of food came from looting and hunting while traveling. All these strategies made Khan' army extremely efficient in traveling, without a need for any new technology. This strategy for mobility and unobtrusive travel provided a greater advantage than any bestowed by the technology of the time. The army did not even rely on written text to relay accurate orders the such a large group of soldiers. A simple rhyming musical system allowed orders to be passed, quickly, efficiently, and accurately to the entire horde who could easily learn the new orders and remember them. In every area Khan innovated with what he had, not relying on new and advanced technology to gain the upper hand in warfare, and this led to one of the greatest conquests in human history.

There are of course some examples in history where a advance in technology has afforded an advantage to one side or the other in an armed conflict. The problem with the advantage brought by technology is that it is only an advantage until the enemy can duplicate an equivalent technology to combat it, or cancel out by changing the circumstances of war completely.

C. Charles VIII

This failing of a technological advantage is shown during the attack on Italy by Charles VIII of Italy. Charles crossed the Alps with his army of 27,000, hoping to claim his right to Italy and use it to launch attacks against the Ottomans. The army consisted of Swiss, French, and large mercenary groups, none of which were truly effective in battle. What gave Charles the advantage he needed to win was the French artillery. The French led the way in the development of cannons, making lighter guns that could be moved more easily on the battlefield. This was combined with more efficient ammunition, solid iron cannonballs that would fly farther and do more damage. These could be used due to France's development of corning gunpowder to make it more reliable and powerful. These developments on the cannon would stay the same for around 400 years, but at the time the French had gained a lead in the area of artillery.

Using this vast advantage, Charles brought forth a much more effective force than the Italians were expecting. Using the unexpected advantage to break through sieges that may have lasted weeks