Learning to Leave

This study proposes the preeminence of disengagement in US national military strategy. The author first assesses the place disengagement holds in the realm of strategy, concluding that the term is misunderstood and underappreciated. Next, the author examines why this negative connotation of disengagement exists. 'Mini-case studies,' in the form of US military interventions since World War II, examine various approaches to disengagement to find what was tried and the results. Examining historical disengagement efforts and missed opportunities through the lenses of the Cold War and the New World Order, the author explores various barriers to disengagement which exist within the US national security apparatus. By coupling the practical, historical examination of the mini-cases with the theoretical analysis of organizational barriers, the author finds common misperceptions that further hinder disengagement. All these factors combined lead to a propensity for US military and civilian policymakers to overextend the military. In the end, the author finds that a national military strategy of disengagement best supports the expansive national security strategies of the New World Order. Making such a strategy feasible requires the national security apparatus to be completely reengineered from its Cold War framework.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.