ABSTRACT
The contribution that ground forces make to ending a conflict depends on what the national leadership expects to get out of committing forces to conflict. The problem with the term “conflict termination” is an academic overtone that makes the issue resemble a problem in negotiation rather than force. Discussion of war termination should take into account the nature of war itself, and those cultural perspectives that affect our thinking. Because European military organization and technique demonstrated its superiority in colonial engagements from Egypt to China, the first step after independence in most newly evolving former colonies has been the creation of European-style armies. Successful conflict termination for NATO would be restoration of the status quo ante with the survival of as much of western Europe’s social and economic fabric as possible. The dynamics of future war, whether in NATO or in a remote developing state, are going to be oriented on lower and lower organizational levels.
