America's Role in the Allied Intervention in Northern Russia and Siberia (1918-1920) Case Studies of Mission Creep and Coalition Failure

摘要

The United States participated in a little known episode, at the end of World War I, in which the Allies intervened in the Russian Civil War. American forces, though sent to perform garrison duties, became embroiled in conflict with the Red Army. The Situation then in Northern Russia and Siberia, and Allied operations conducting in response, closely resembled contemporary Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), such as those conducted in Somalia and Bosnia. This paper provides lessons learned from case studies of the Allied intervention, particularly those in which 'mission creep,' disunity of effort, and lack of coordination between allies, governmental departments, and non- governmental agencies was prevalent.