In this piece, Lewis Sage-Passant reviews “Precision: A History of American Warfare” by James Patton Rogers, which argues that precision warfare is far older than we think, and examines how the pursuit of more accurate weapons has shaped US military doctrine. With two major wars raging in 2024, and a series of smaller ones simmering away, understanding the tools with which they are fought, how they have developed, and the philosophies behind them, is key for modern geopolitical analysts.
Further book recommendations can be found in our 2024 Geopolitical Reading List.
In “Precision: A History of American Warfare“, military historian and drone warfare expert Dr James Patton Rogers explores the roots of precision warfare, dating back to the First World War. Dr Rogers examines why precision warfare has remained an enduring philosophy in US military doctrine, which in turn has shaped how war is seen in US politics, media, and culture.
We recently discussed this topic with Dr Rogers in the “How to get on a Watchlist” podcast, where he explained the fascinating evolution behind automated warfare as a means to fight a “cleaner” kind of war; the kind that he argues in “Precision” ushered in a new era of warfighting in the 1991 Gulf War, in which the U.S.-led coalition toppled the 4th largest army in the world in short order, with limited coalition casualties, through the use of precision bombardment. Despite this evolution, Rogers notes that precision warfare is not without flaws; the first drone strike, in October 2001, failed to hit its target (Taliban leader Mullah Omar). Civilian and friendly casualties remain a marked component of war. Rogers’ critical view of precision warfare is evident, and he closes the book with a chilling note; intended as a means to wage war the “American way” – reducing US casualties and increasing precision against Washington’s adversaries – the opposite has likely happened, and drones and other precision weapons are now a potent tool of almost all state and non-state adversaries. Rogers argues that they now rank among the greatest threats to national security.
Overall, “Precision: A History of American Warfare” is a must-read for students of international relations, military history, war studies, and global security. Wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and elsewhere have made incredibly tangible the role of precision weapons and drones, and this trend is unlikely to abate. As we discussed with Dr Rogers in our “How to conduct a Drone Attack” podcast episode, an acceleration towards AI-controlled weapons seems more likely, and as such, it is essential to understand how these new evolutions have shaped and will shape the face of warfare. While not an optimistic read, “Precision” is a particularly important part of the military doctrine literature for this coming year, and is recommended for intermediate and advanced-level readers in this field.
“Precision: A History of American Warfare” is available from Manchester University Press, who generously provided Encyclopedia Geopolitica with a copy for this review.
Additional geopolitical reading suggestions can be found in our 2024 Geopolitical Reading List.
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Lewis Sage-Passant is a researcher in the field of intelligence and espionage, and a former British Military Intelligence Officer. Lewis holds a PhD from Loughborough University in intelligence studies, and is an adjunct professor in intelligence at Sciences Po Paris. He has extensive experience working and living in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions in a variety of geopolitical analysis and intelligence roles, supporting the energy industry, the financial sector, leading technology firms, and the pharmaceuticals sector. He has appeared in numerous media outlets, including the BBC, France24, CNBC, Harvard Business Review, The New Arab, El Mundo, GQ, and others, discussing intelligence, geopolitics, and security topics.
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