Peacetime Engagement: Beating Swords into Plowshares
Abstract
The end of the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union ended forty-five years of containment policy for the United States. For the duration of the Cold War the U.S. security strategy was to deter communism everywhere it threatened to break out. The United States spared no expense to deter Soviet expansion from the Congo to West Germany, from the Dominican Republic to South Vietnam, and from Grenada to Panama. Wherever communism threatened to gain ground the United States was willing to move in to contain the expansion. In the post-Cold War era the need to deter Soviet expansion has disappeared. In seeking a new defense policy that takes into account the diminished Soviet threat, President Bush has delineated a three component policy. A key element in accomplishing the objectives of the new policy is termed 'peacetime engagement.' The physical security of the nation should and will always remain the most important concern for the Army and any mission the Army is given should be thought of in terms of the security of the nation, but the question now is: what role, if any, does the Army have in countering threats to our national security when combat is not involved? This monograph attempts to answer this question by first examining the current doctrine on peacetime engagement. Next the monograph delineates the Army's capabilities for peacetime engagement using the Battlefield Operating Systems. Peace, Peace time engagement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA256620
Entities
People
- Steven C. Sifers
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College