Targeting Organizations

Major Schmidt analyzes the evolution of targeting organizations to identify their strengths and evaluate their impact on future organizations. He discusses both strategic and tactical targeting with primary emphasis on strategic targeting. Because Desert Shield/Desert Storm revealed that centralized targeting of a conventional war from the United States could also work well, Major Schmidt proposes creation of a centralized targeting organization. He indicates that a centralized strategic-targeting agency could ensure ready access to strategic target lists, thus allowing the United States to strike at the heart of the enemy at a moment's notice.