National Security Strategy and Peacetime Engagement Operations: Can We Afford toKeep Our Heads in the Sand

摘要

The rapidly unfolding global security environment of the 1990s confronts the USArmy with numerous challenges encompassing issues of doctrine and force structure as well as the emphasis to be placed on traditional and nontraditional missions. This study examines current readiness focus, the reasonable expectations for upcoming contingencies, and mission preparation and readiness issues. It argues that limited resources and greater probability for deployment to peacetime engagement operations may necessitate a re-evaluation of the total focus on preparation for two near simultaneous major regional conflicts. The paper concludes that it is time to legitimize peacetime engagement operations preparation.