In this post Cold War society, small operations other than war are inevitable. The goal for political-military leaders should not be whether the military instrument should be used in operations other than war, but rather, what considerations must be made for future military make-up and preparations for the uncertain increase of such operations? The one thing that is certain is that the U.S. military will be involved in such operations. Cimbala (1998) asserts that “Politics (the end of the Soviet Union, the removal of threat of global war) compels more attention to the development of capabilities and doctrine for fighting smaller wars, and for the use of military power in support of operations ‘other than war,’ including peacekeeping.” (p. 12).

References

Bhatia, Michael V. (2003). War and Intervention: A Global Survey of Peace Operations. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, Incorporated.

Cimbala, Stephen J. (1998). Coercive Military Strategy. College Station, TX: Texas A & M University Press.

JP (Joint Publication) 3-07. (1995). Joint Doctrine for Military Operations Other Than War. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Washington, D.C.

JP (Joint Publication) 3-08. (1996). Interagency Coordination During Joint Operations. Volume 1. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Washington, D. C.

Manwaring, Max G. (CB). (2000). Beyond Declaring Victory & Coming Home: The Challenges of Peace & Stability Operations. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.

Pirnie, Bruce. (2000). Strengthening the Partnership: Improving Military Coordination with Relief Agencies & Allies in Humanitarian Operations. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation, The.