So Many Conflicts, So Little Time

Increasing commitments to peacekeeping and other non-war operations may be costing the military its combat edge.

Operation Desert Shield, protection of Saudi Arabia. Ended 1991. Operation Southern Watch, peacekeeping in Kuwait. Ongoing. Operation Sea Angel, aid to Bangladesh. Operation Provide Comfort, aid to Iraqi Kurds. Disaster relief for Hurricane Andrew. Disaster relief for Hurricane Inike. Operation Restore Hope, aid to Somalia. Ended 1994. Operation Provide Promise, aid to Croatia. Ongoing. Peace building in Macedonia. Ongoing. Disaster relief for Midwest floods. Disaster relief for forest fires in West. Cuban migrant assistance in Guantanamo Bay. Operation Support Hope, aid to Rwanda. Operation Uphold Democracy, intervention in Haiti. Ongoing. Operation Vigilant Warrior in Kuwait. Operation Vigilant Sentinel, peacekeeping in Kuwait. Ongoing.Joint Task Force Safe Border, peacekeeping in Peru and Ecuador. Ongoing.

(kpeters@govexec.com)

During the 40 years of the Cold War, from 1950 through 1989, the Army participated in 10 major deployments to handle crises both foreign and domestic. Since 1990, the Army has participated in at least 27 such deployments, eight of which are ongoing:

1989

Operation Just Cause, invasion of Panama. Ended 1990.

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1990

Sinai peacekeeping operation, Egypt. Ongoing.

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1991

Operation Desert Storm, liberation of Kuwait.

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1992

Civil support for the Los Angeles riots.

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1993

UNISOM II, peacekeeping in Somalia.

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1994

Operation Safe Haven, Cuban and Haitian migrant assistance in Panama.

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1995

Operation Deliberate Force, counter-terrorism raids in Bosnia.

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BOSNIA

SFC LARRY LANE, U.S. ARMY

Operation Joint Endeavor, peacekeeping in Bosnia. Ended 1996.

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1996

Operation Joint Guard, peacekeeping in Bosnia. Ongoing.

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LIBERIA

CPL. A. Olguin, U.S. Marine corps./DOD

Operation Assured Response, Liberia.

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