Lessons learned from any human activity form the basis of his individual thinking and his strategy. This is also applicable to states, particularly after wars and military actions .If such lessons are based on strategic studies as well as political, social and economic weight, they will be vital for perfect, future actions.Therefore, such lessons should be well-planned, applicable and useful for working out future strategies of the state. Otherwise they will be merely the result of temporary reactions and will be consigned to archives and burial under piles of dust.
By staff brigadier Abdullah Bin Saeed Al-Gahtani
The aim of this lengthy introduction is to highlight the importance of such lessons for the defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is in addition to studying and documenting such lessons after the end of the war against (the Huthi aggressors) on our southern borders with the Yemeni Republic for comparison with lessons learned by the ministry of interior and a; its organs during their anti-terror war and their pre-emptive strikes against terrorism. This includes the revision of plans, training of personnel and the provision of weapons for such operations. Due to the application of such plans, the Kingdom is being singled out as a role model for successfully defeating terrorism,
This clear example illustrates the important role of such lessons in enhancing all aspects of the Kingdom's defense. They will form a vital source for working out plans and strategies and guiding decision-makers not only at the military level but also in all components (of the state's total power) defined as the combination of material and moral elements and the state's technical progress to be used as part of its comprehensive strategy to achieve its goals. Another definition of total power is the state's ability to use all its resources to leave an impact on the behavior of other states. So, to enhance the Kingdom's defense, we need to apply recently learned lessons on certain elements of its total power such as:
The vital mass, also known as the critical mass: It includes the study of territory and the degree of integration between them, e.g. studying territory's location, topography, climate, food and raw materials on the one hand and population growth, development, backwardness, loyalty and religious ideologies on the other. Lessons related to this element should be derived from actual conditions on our southern borders in the wake of the recent crisis with a view to applying them on all regions of the Kingdom, particularly the border areas.
1.Economic mass: It indicates the Kingdom's stature among other countries of the world based on the relationship between energy production and consumption, food production ,Kingdom's foreign trade and resources of other non- oil metals. Lessons learned from this element are particularly important due to its impact on all aspects of life in the Kingdom.
2.Military capability: it includes both conventional and non-conventional strategic (nuclear. chemical and biological) capability. The lessons gleaned from this element should be real lessons as field commanders have discovered shortcomings in many domains such as specific regional training equipment, weapons and vehicles suitable to each region's topography.
3.Diplomatic (foreign) Capability: It is concerned with the state's relations and dealings with other countries .It depends on the Kingdom's goals based on firm foundations to bolster other (political, economic and military) total powers. This clearly explains the wisdom of utilizing the lessons learned from recent crises. This element is the Kingdom's most important powers as revealed b the recent crisis, highlighting our leaders ' prudence and wisdom in dealing with friendly and hostile states.
4.Moral Power: It is the psychological and non-mental state known as intangible power. Factors affecting this power include social values, intellectual trends and prevalent religious beliefs, according to divergent social, environmental or cultural conditions. This power is the key factor in the people's moral and loyalty, protecting all the state's total powers. Lessons learned from crises are innumerable and should be utilized by the Kingdom in the future whether during peace or war.
5.Technological Power: It represents the state's ability to use scientific knowhow in all spheres. It is the real yardstick for measuring the differences between states. The lessons derived from this crisis will be useful in planning and upgrading of modern technologies to bolster military and non-military operations.
6.Political (domestic) Power: It is concerned with organizing people's relations within the state's boundaries by a political regime to reap maximum benefits from potentials and available resources. The domestic policy seeks to achieve political cohesion and people's unity. I am convinced that great lessons will be drawn from this element to enhance political stability and people's affiliation during similar crises.
Going back to the title of this article, I am of the opinion that all ministries and state organs should review the lessons derived from this crisis after the end of military operations. The Kingdom's defense should be enhanced in the light of such review on a scientific basis and a constantly updated futuristic perspective. Also, we should seriously examine the need for setting up national research centers in all ministries and governmental organs. We should also enlist the help of qualified and skilled people in the Kingdom's universities as well as military officers to highlight the lessons learned from recent crises, applying them in bolstering the Kingdom's defense. Those in charge of authority, spearheaded by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his wise government are keen encourage and support such centers to bolster the Kingdom's security and stability.