Book excerpt: The recent release of the new Commander s Handbook for an Effects-Based Approach to Joint Operations has rekindled the debate on the necessity of incorporating Effect-Base Operations (EBO) into doctrine. The foundation for this paper is based on three fundamental points. First, we have been conducting military operations to achieve effects in the past. Second, the current consternation is actually about the System-of-Systems Approach, not necessarily for or against the EBO concept. Third, total reliance on this System-of-Systems Approach is not the panacea to all military operations; in fact to do so could be detrimental to an Operational Commander. Lastly, this paper concludes that the Commander s Handbook for an Effects-Based Approach to Joint Operations should be withdrawn, that precise terminology must be used when developing doctrine or processes, and the System-of- Systems Approach should be used as part of the IPB process and indoctrinated at the service level.