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Library of Congress2023

Battle of Gettysburg : July 1-3, 1863 : the impact of alternative technologies on Civil War history

Gettysburg has been one of the U.S. Army's favorite staff ride locations for decades. It was the site of perhaps the pivotal battle of the U.S. Civil War, and General George Pickett's famous but disastrous charge marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. The authors of this report combine a staff ride with a consideration of alternative history: They examine what happened in the crucial 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and consider what could have happened if a few key technologies that were available for military use had been used in this battle.

united states↗

Library of Congress2022

Understanding civilian harm in Raqqa and its implications for future conflicts

The battle for Raqqa, Syria, seemed like a perfect storm of strategic and operational challenges. When the city was finally liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in October 2017, 60 to 80 percent of it was estimated to be uninhabitable. In fact, the battle for Raqqa is a cautionary tale about civilian harm in 21st-century conflicts. The purpose of this report is to discuss how the U.S. military-which is the best-trained and most technologically advanced military in the world, is supported in Operation Inherent Resolve by an international coalition of more than 80 countries, and was partnered in Raqqa with a well-respected militia force on the ground-could cause significant civilian harm despite a deeply ingrained commitment to the law of war. In this report, RAND researchers study the causes of civilian harm in Raqqa and provide insights into how the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) can reduce civilian harm in future operations.

united states↗