Future warfare focus of Va. trade show

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., May 13 (UPI) -- Marine Gen. James Mattis said at the Joint Warfighting 09 trade show in Virginia Beach, Va., such warfare gatherings are vital for the future.

The commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command told those in attendance at the three-day event a grand strategy was needed to help coordinate all military planning in the future in the face of similar war planning by the "enemy," The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot said Wednesday.

"I come with a sense of urgency," Mattis said Tuesday. "The enemy is meeting like this as well."

Mattis, who also serves as supreme allied commander transformation for NATO, said cultural, geographic and historical awareness by armed forces will likely be key in future warfare.

The NATO official suggested combining such troop awareness with a less stringent command policy to allow those forces to adapt to any prevalent threats that may change over time.

U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who delivered the keynote speech at the trade show, agreed being prepared for complex threats will be key.

"There will be no silver-bullet solutions," he said, "and nothing that relies on a single instrument of national power."