From Corinth to Kandahar: Soldiers in Cities Across the Millennia

Urban operations have long been among a soldier's most dangerous and challenging of undertakings. No single approach to meeting its objectives addresses every challenge. Urban populations and physical characteristics are too heterogeneous to allow such straightforward resolution. Yet a surprisingly small set of guidelines for envisioning the nature of urban environments and attending to their challenges may provide initial steps of significant value. Employing a systems approach in viewing an urban area abets understanding how density, effects, and responsibility will influence its many components, the totality of these components, and regions beyond to which it is linked economically, socially, or otherwise. Understanding the relationships inherent in the urban area as a system will improve the potential of maintaining the initiative. Patience on the part of policymakers and those executing policies is essential. Nations and coalitions would be well advised to consider the wisdom of initially committing to urban operations barring confidence in their ability to sustain the undertaking over the long term.