Part II Commentaries to Typical Sofa Rules, 23 Logistic Support

Subject(s):

Military assistance — Transparency — Military matters — Peace keeping

This chapter discusses logistic support arrangements. When properly orchestrated, logistics arrangements can be conceived as a decisive instrument of multinational warfare and champion the change from a military coalition to an alliance. Nevertheless, logistics is a low-profile discipline that only comes to light when it fails. In this regard, looking for market-oriented efficiencies should never result in a gap on strategic projection. It is by creating and sustaining superior performance that an organization will dilute costs due to a greater value of its overall activities. Very great attention is paid to short-term cash economy in detriment to long-range military planning benefits. Tactical logistics are well monitored: everyone understands the importance of not running out of fuel during combat and it is not difficult to flag the problem. On the other hand, strategic logistics and its implication on support arrangements are frequently neglected during peacetime.