POLS 2940 Chapter 7: Chapter 7.docx

• School: York University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2940
• Professor: Sandra Withworth

Document Summary

States are starting to use military forces for other uses than to fight wars; humanitarian assistance, domestic political unrest, and fighting drugs. Military capabilities are divided into 3 parts; conventional forces, irregular forces, and weapons of mass destruction. The major task of the conventional forces is to defend and expand territory. Foot soldiers are called infantry; they use light weapons such as mines and machine guns as well as heavy artillery. Counterinsurgency: winning the heart of the people so they do not harbour militia members and do not join the militia. Landmines: are widely used by militias because they are simple, cheap and effective but they can also hurt allies, civilians, animals and the same army who planted them. Long after wars have ended, landmines still kill people. Main use is to control passages of seas and to attack coastlines. They are used for bombing an area, close air support, and intercept any other aircraft.