Threats to National Security
The era of the Post Cold War period was considered to be the time of rehabilitation. By this period there was observed the formation of the American foreign policy measuring in connection to Soviet threat. The principal mission of the American policymakers after the Cold War period was containment. It should be noted that the National Security of the USA faced certain threats leading to national interactions.
After the Cold War period the US faced certain dangers and threats. All the threats faced by the USA can be divided into the following groups:
- Threats of mass destruction weapons. These threats are connected with the promotion of chemical and biological weapons.
- Dangers to the reform and democracy.
- Aggression on the part of regional governments. Regional dangers resulted in religious conflicts and state terrorism.
- National security faced economic dangers being the principal obstacle on the way of strong economy building (Hook, 2006).
The US tried to create and develop steps aimed at prosperity, freedom and safety. It was reached due to security partnerships adaptation and expansion. The US managed to build a stronger democratic nations community. The promotion of new regional security was organized with the purpose of potential aggression reduction and deterrence improvement. It should be noted that the US managed to form the treaties of Strategic Arms Reduction Talks. It helped to reduce strategic nuclear arsenal dramatically. US strategies were aimed at advancement and protection of national security; to reach political freedom and people’s prosperity through the fulfillment of principle national goals (Neuchterlein, 2000).
The Limits in Humanitarian Crises
Humanitarian Military intervention is connected with warlike roles change into peaceful ones by Western countries; it can be explained by the fact there was no need in battles after the period of the Cold War. The demand for military intervention was connected with regional instability and plenty of refugees caused by armed conflicts.
The analysis of humanitarian crises has shown the establishment of principle limitations and problems. The first limit is connected with the improper military organization being completely unsuitable for humanitarian goals. In addition to it the notable limitations of military involvement are merely caused by certain differences in principles considering humanitarian agencies and military forces cooperation.
The humanitarian crises provided restrictions to the complete military operations of the US. It was stated that the interference of military involvement with humanitarian operations could be perceived by the community as a reflection of political considerations. (Neuchterlein, 2000)
The leaders of the US military strived to dominate state military operations through humanitarian assistance involvement; though in the time of crises their positions and ideas were pressed through general tension. At the period of standard humanitarian development the US military provided complete support to the humanitarian community. Nevertheless the principal problem in the usage of the US military for humanitarian development is closely connected with the destruction of humanitarian principles such as neutrality, impartiality and humanity. The conflicts and restrictions appeared due to the ineffectiveness of military-humanitarian programs resulting in crises expansion. The misconception in humanitarian organizations and military forces is considered to be the background problem.
US Military Forces and Post Cold War Conflicts
US military campaign is usually directed at post-conflict activities. Nevertheless the US military forces were not completely prepared for the conflicts of the post-Cold War period. It should be stated that the US faced danger in the spheres of retention, readiness and morale.
The unpreparedness of the US military forces is connected with the new strategic realities of the post-Cold war period. The post-war American position influenced its leadership in the international arena and its ability to act as an ally. The downfall of the US military was followed by an increase in overseas deployments and contingency operations and a decrease of available resources leading to the disability of forces to fight basic regional conflicts simultaneously (Hook, 2006).
It should be stressed that dramatic increase of operations tempo appeared to create hindrances in the actions of military forces. The US military experienced the problem of its structural organization; crises faced by the US in that period required appropriate organization and deployment of expeditionary forces. Besides the quantities of weapons were insufficient during the period of conflicts increasing the level of threats (Neuchterlein, 2000).
It is important to stress that US military forces had no sufficient preparedness for the conflicts of the post-Cold War period; nevertheless, they tried to develop certain steps and programs for conflicts regulation.
References
- Hook, S. and Spanier, J. 2006. American Foreign Policy since World War II. CQ Press. 241-267.
- Neuchterlein, D. 2000. America Recommitted. Scholarly Book Services Inc.199-280.