Vital and Vulnerable

In this chapter the critical question as to what to target is taken up by Muir Fairchild in two lectures, “National Economic Structure” and “New York Industrial Area.” Targeting a relatively small number of vital and vulnerable economic nodes of an industrialized nation would produce economic and social paralysis, thereby quickly draining the enemy population of the will and means to resist. By contrast, the direct bombing of civilians is not only unethical and diplomatically costly, it is also less effective than attacking a nation’s economic infrastructure. The attack of economic targets will exert pressure on the ability of the population both to sustain itself and to produce the weapons, munitions. and supplies required to wage war.