Urban Legend: Is Combat in Cities Really Inevitable? By David Johnson – War on the Rocks
… I still believe that urban combat poses some of the most difficult challenges a military can face. Nevertheless, as this current urban combat juggernaut picks up momentum, it is time to ask several fundamental questions: Why would you fight in cities? Who will you fight in cities? Which cities are possible combat sites in the future?...
If we take as truth that the U.S. military will have to fight in urban areas, then the first question to ask is what will bring U.S. forces to urban areas in the first place? In short, what is the mission? I believe that the historical record shows that there are two basic offensive missions in urban combat…