Military Decision-Making Processes

Table of Contents
Preface    1
Introduction    3
Chapter 1: The Rational Actor Model    7
Example 1: Truman’s Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb on Japan, 1945    7
Example 2: Reagan’s Decision to Bomb Libya, 1986    12
Example 3: Bush’s Decision to Halt Operation Desert Storm, 1991    16
Utility of the Rational Actor Model    18
Chapter 2: Prospect Theory    20
Example 1: Washington’s Decision to Attack Trenton, 1776    20
Example 2: Meade’s Decision Not to Pursue Lee After Gettysburg, 1863    23
Example 3: Clinton’s Decision to Withdraw from Somalia, 1993    28
Utility of the Prospect Theory    31
Chapter 3: Poliheuristic Theory    33
Example 1: Eisenhower’s Decision Not to Intervene in Hungary, 1956    34
Example 2: Kennedy’s Authorization of the Bay of Pigs, 1961    37
Example 3: Johnson’s Decision to De-escalate US Involvement in Vietnam, 1968    42
Utility of the Poliheuristic Theory    49
Chapter 4: The Bureaucratic Model    50
Example 1: The Confederate Departmental System’s Impact on the Vicksburg Campaign, 1862–1863    51
Example 2: The ­Army–Air Force Helicopter Rivalry, 1950s–1960s    54
Example 3: The Department of State and the Department of Defense and the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, 1982    60
Utility of the Bureaucratic Model    65
Chapter 5: The Organizational Process Model    66
Example 1: Strategic Formulation in the Vietnam War, 1960s–1970s    66
Example 2: The Decision to Abort the Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission, 1980    71
Example 3: The Federalization of the California Army National Guard During the Los Angeles Riot, 1992    75
Utility of the Organizational Process Model    80
Chapter 6: The Small Group Model    81
Example 1: The Blockade Board in the Civil War, 1861    81
Example 2: The Executive Committee During the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962    87