Nation Building: A Bad Idea Who's Time Has Come?
Abstract
For over 50 years the United States military has focused on major wars and the ability to mass adequate land air and sea power to defeat a global foe. Ironically while preparing for such a war United States forces have routinely engaged in smaller-scale operations. The military has been required to combat terrorism, fight insurgencies and counterinsurgencies conduct non-combatant evacuations from war zones, strengthen friendly governments, provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and participate in countless peacekeeping operations and most recently conduct state stabilization and reconstruction. The recent trend however is that these operations other than war have rapidly moved from the sidelines to the center court and in the process they have raised valid questions about the force structure doctrine and use of the United States armed forces specifically in Phase IV Transition operations. The current National Security Strategy of the United States makes it likely that increased numbers of American armed forces will be engaged abroad in coming years carrying out a range of missions from war fighting to nation building. It appears that operations other than war will continue to play an important role in our National Security Strategy and the Army will bear the brunt of these efforts. The challenge is to determine the proper force structure and doctrine required to conduct these operations over the long haul. Done well the military's support in these operations will go a long way in ensuring progress toward United States security goals. As we enter the Twenty-first Century it is crucial that we understand the expanded role the Army could potentially play as globalization increases. The purpose of this study is to provide the reader with a better understanding of the current challenges that our Army faces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423757
Entities
People
- Burdett K. Thompson
Organizations
- United States Army War College