Geopolitics, Sea Power, Land Power, and Air Power - Assignment Example

?LESSON LEARNED Lessons Learned Discussion Forum Geopolitics The Louisiana Purchase led to an end of last battle between France, Spain, and United States of America. The deal enabled France to gain the funds it needed to run her economy. The previous alliance between France and United States of America was seen as the most lucrative real estate deal in history, which resulted in the increase of US borders down the Mississippi river and increase in trade routes. On the other hand, France wanted money for war against Britain. The Louisiana deal was the answer to these queries (Hansen 44, 1997). The acquisition of Louisiana helped United States in that it played the role of supplying goods to colonists during the revolutionary war and in turn, it began to establish strong trade ties with other nations. The United States was neutral in that it did not support any side during the war. This stance made Britain restrict US trades through its Maritime blockade. Trade between Northern US, New Orleans, and Europe came to a halt and flow of goods dried up. When came to an end in 1814, new sense of identity, pride and expansionism swept the identity of US In that the new culture of the US grew with its new geography. The islands of Greater and lesser Tunb located in the Persian Gulf near Strait of Hormuz were vital in defining the relationship between UAE and Iran. Iran invaded these islands in an attempt to control them from the newly established nation of UAE. Iran claimed that these islands were traditionally controlled by a kingdom that was part of modern Iran and the fact that the al-Qasimi family that was given control over the islands by the British actually resided at one point in Iran. Iran was frustrated since the international community recognized UAE as the real owner of these islands but still Iran invaded them in 1971. Underwood (2002) states that Geographical reasons made Iran invade these regions. their strategic location near strait of Hormuz which enabled Iran watch the sea traffic tankers headed towards North America therefore acquisition of these islands would enable Iran threaten flow of traffic through Strait of Hormuz. In addition, the discovery of oil off the coast of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb would benefit both UAE and Iran, but also be a flashpoint in future relationships between these countries should the agreements not be honored. This conflict is vital in gaining economic and political stability of Persian Gulf. The Gaza strip has been on limelight of geopolitics in relation to the relationship among air, sea and land power. Israel controlled the land until 2005 when it returned it to Egypt. In addition, it retained air and water controls of this area in that it preserved controlled over the movement of goods and service used by sea or air. Geopolitics is concerned about protection and security of national interests of a nation. The geographical protection of the borders and security of people were the major issues. Due to this, Israel aim to neutralize and divide the Arab powers. Geopolitics are vital in development of foreign policies, which Israel has provided a good example through the six-Day war (Colbert et al 56-58, 1994). The war between Argentina and Britain is another example of geopolitics. This war explains geopolitical thinking from an Argentine and Britain viewpoint propagated this war. On one hand, Argentina wanted to invade Falkland because of proximity of these regions. Argentina wanted to regain her islands from Britain. On the other hand, Britain wanted to protect its overseas territory of the Falkland Island since the Falkland Islanders and the supporters back in Britain would consider Britain traitors if they attempt to settle the sovereignty dispute peacefully with the Argentines. Therefore, it is only natural for Britain not to cede the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands to Argentina. The events leading up to the Korean War were based on geopolitical and geostrategic moves by both the United States and the Soviet Union. The initial plans were for the formation of an independent and unified country by establishing a permanent Korean government. However due to obvious differing political philosophies as well as geostrategic aims, the United States and the Soviet Union were unable to reach an agreement on negotiations for planning a unified Korean peninsula. This event is very important because it among the proxy war fought by US during the cold war period. This period influenced US geostrategic and geopolitical thinking. While both sides were fighting to increase their sphere of influence in South East Asia, the Soviet Union and China to spread communism and the United States and U.N. to spread democracy, this move to intervene by the U.S. was also part of their overall strategy of containment of communism into what they saw as geostrategic areas. The United States saw their ability to have influence over other nations in key regions as a vital strategy in order to retain security and its status as a super power. Discussion Forum 2: Sea power Geographical position, state policy, and economic bases are the major factors to consider in relation to securing international trade. Creation of naval power is vital in expanding international trade. Ruby preferred application of sea power via a big navy, which is important in economic warfare and trade. The nations that command the sea are well positioned to draw trade, wealth, and economic resources of the world and have high chance of winning wars. Naval weakness would lead to seaborne assault due to inability to match stronger nations on the sea, which eventually leads to economic vivacity. Using Britain as case study, it thrived because men who had close contact to maritime commerce dominated parliament. Concerning maritime supremacy a democratized nation would succeed in commanding the seas but this could only be exercised by transnational group of navies. For such supremacy to last there must be absence of political conflict, which worked well for US and Britain due to the cooperation of these two nations. In the contemporary world, the historic strategy that emphasized on the ‘rule of force’ has already been surpassed by the rule of law. In this case, the US military must be able to act unilaterally to defeat or even contain the hostile powers of China and Russia- an Islamic world. Discussion Forum 3: Land Power Strategic positioning of forces determines who wins in a war. Dominance is attained through control of vast areas. Geostrategic and Geography can influence the actions of heads of many States in the world. Most political analyst like Sir Halford have argued the importance of geopolitics from central perspectives, for instance, they proposed that Eurasia is the main strategic point from which great land power emanates from. It is argued that landlocked areas of Eurasia are vital in military strategic formulations in that anybody who possesses Eurasia will win the war. Eurasia is key to geopolitical prize in a battle for world dominance due to its potential for massive development from its raw materials. The US is strong in the sea but with the occupation of large by Russia is considered a great threat to US for world power (Brzezinski 34, 1997). Discussion Forum 4: Air power Airpower ensures easy exploitation of air space with the aim of providing security to individuals of states. Air power is maximum use of flight during war. The main argument is that airplanes contain such ubiquity, and such merits of elevation and speed, as to have the power of destroying all surface installations and instruments, afloat or ashore while itself remaining safe from any effective reprisal from the ground. Kearny (2005) argues that the air power should only be applied as the last resort. It is argued that the United States of America should lend some of its forces and weaponry to the United Nations, which will enhance unilateralism since decisions are made collectively. I would like to conclude that I agree with the assertion of air power as long as it is under the command of the UN peacekeeping forces. Only after the air power is under the command of UN peacekeeping forces should air power be utilized. Air power is integration of activities that are aimed at defeating the enemy. Achieving this requires that the concerned nation work as a team by involving air and ground troops. In addition, destruction of the key areas of the economy such as infrastructure and factories would facilitate surrendering by the enemy Bibliography Brzezinski, Zbigniew. The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and its Geostrategic Imperatives. New York: Basic Books, 1997. Colbert, Held, and McDonald, Mildred,. Middle East Patterns: Places, Peoples, and Politics. Boulder: Westview, 1994. Halford J. Mackinder, “The Geographical Pivot of History,” Geographical Journal, (1904): 27- 31. Hansen, David G. “The Immutable Importance of Geography.” Parameters. New York: Spring, 1997. Kearny, Thomas. “Air Power: What a Difference a Decade Makes.” Foreign Policy Institute. New York: John Hopkins University, 2005. Underwood, Gerald. The Louisiana Purchase, the war of 1812 and American Identity. New York: Kindle Books, 2002. Read More