The Context of Military Intervention: Past, Present and Future

The CNA Context of Military Intervention (CMI) Project was sponsored by the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy, and Operation to help provide insight into the debate over the use of U.S. military forces in American foreign policy. This concept paper was prepared for participants in the CMI Seminar Series, which will examine this debate with prominent former members of the U.S. Government, along with experts from the military services, the media, and academia. The purpose of this paper is to define some of the issues and to provoke thought. Some case studies, which will be used as reference points in the seminars, are also outlined.