Non-Combat Roles for the U.S. Military in the Post-Cold War Era (SuDoc D 5.415:N 73) (Paperback)

~ U.S. Dept of Defense (Author), James R. Graham (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: National Defense University Press (1993)
• ASIN: B00010KWQG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,252,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Non-Combat Roles for the U.S. Military, September 21, 2006

By	cortezhill (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

One of the most serious issues being examined within the national defense community is that of increaseing the military's non-combat roles and missions. The argument for doing so is that the end of the Cold War has made it possible for the military to assume more non-combat roles and missions. This argument suggests that the realighnment of U.S. stategy from a global to a regional orientation calls for increasing such activities as nation buildin, humanitarian assistance and training, disaster relief, and many aspects of peacekeeping.

The counterargument warns that too great a shift in roles and missions because of this "peace dividend" may leave the military less well prepared to meet the major crisis that might develop, for example, with China or the former Soviet Union. This counter argument points to how a strong combat-ready U.S. military, abetted by responsive international structures like NATO, has deterred agression since World War II.

The National Defense University Symposium titled "Non-Traditional Roles for the U.S. Military" provided a forum for examining those two arguments and a full spectrum of issues falling between them. A very distinguished group of military and civilian commentators discussed these matters insightfully and extensively. This volume offers the major presentations delivered at the Symposium as well as summaries of ensuing panel discussions. More than just an ordinary procedings of the Symposium, it can serve as an informative reader for general audiences or a resource book for classes studying this important subject.
--- from book's Foreword by
Paul G. Cerjan
Lieutenant General, US Army
President, National Defense University