during the course of the campaign, the strategic necessity of the operation was called into question as it became clear that the fighting would have little impact upon the outcome of the war. in that regard, it was argued that the japanese forces in aitape–wewak posed no strategic threat to the allies as they advanced towards mainland japan and that if they could be isolated and contained they could be left to "wither on the vine" as their supplies ran out. as such, the campaign has sometimes been referred to as an "unnecessary campaign", and general (later field marshal) thomas blamey, commander-in-chief of the australian military forces, was accused of undertaking it for "his own glorification". army officer and military historian eustace keogh concludes that "politically or strategically, the offensives on bougainville and at aitape–wewak served no useful purpose".