Amerikanska marinkåren under Irakkrigen 1991 och 2003
manöverkrigföring i teorin och praktiken?
Swedish doctrines emphasises the use of maneuver warfare in combat. Therefore we need tounderstand how a modern state can transform maneuver theories in doctrine into combat practice.United States Marine Corps, a joint armed force in itself, has participated in both Desert Stormand Iraqi Freedom and has since the 1980?s used a maneuver warfare concept. The aim of thisessay is to describe and explain to what degree USMC has conducted maneuver warfare in theIraq wars 1991 and 2003 according to maneuver theory, in the light of how maneuver warfareis thought to be conducted in accordance with then present warfighting doctrines. Theconclusions are that USMC has followed their doctrines in part; the Desert Storm warfaredeviated more from doctrine than the Iraqi Freedom warfare regarding maneuver warfare. At thesame time there was a slightly higher degree of maneuver warfare in accordance with maneuvertheory during Iraqi Freedom than during Desert Storm. There are multiple explanations to thisbut one of the most important reason is that the Corps has had a longer period of time toimplement and train according to doctrine. There exist a number of independent variables thathave an impact on the degree of maneuver warfare - such as weather, the enemy and the terrain ?but they are assessed to have a totally equal impact on war fighting in both wars. There is aninherited dependence on the general use of firepower, as a complement to movement, beingviewed upon as an important tool to shatter enemy cohesion and will to fight. This could be aa result of the Desert Storm experience and was implemented in doctrine prior to Iraqi Freedomand is a clear divergence from maneuver theory.