Few national security actions are as controversial as the use of military force. Indeed, the end of the cold-war made such decisions even more controversial because U.S. leaders can no longer refer to the Soviet treat as a guidepost for U.S. policy. Recent developments in Bosnia, Iraq, and Haiti have made it clear that the Unites States needs to reassess its polices for deciding when to resort to military force, for what purposes, and under what conditions.
This volume of essays is the result of an Aspen Strategy Group conference where leading and former U.S. officials and international experts considered these issues. The authors identify the circumstances when military force might be needed in the post-cold war era, the arguments for and against the use of force, and the constraints on U.S. leaders to resort to military force.