THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995                 TAG: 9503100340
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   47 lines

MILITARY DUTIES NOW OFFICIALLY INCLUDE NOT JUST WAR - BUT PEACE

The Pentagon has revised its main statement of U.S. military strategy to affirm the importance of the growing use of U.S. forces in peacekeeping and other non-combat operations.

The ``National Military Strategy,'' made public Wednesday, says the principal roles of American troops are no longer limited to fighting wars and deterring aggression.

This is the first time the document has emphasized peacekeeping. The last version, published in January 1992 after the Cold War, cited deterrence as ``the primary and central motivating purpose'' underlying U.S. military strategy.

The revised report, issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlines a more active ``strategy of flexible and selective engagement.'' It reflects the Clinton administration's emphasis on promoting democratic ideals and free markets abroad, and the increased involvement of U.S. troops in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in places like Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Haiti.

``U.S. military strategy must be intrinsically constructive, proactive and preventive, helping to reduce the sources of conflict and at the same time blocking the effective use of force by potential adversaries,'' the 20-page document says.

The highest strategic priority, the report says, remains deterring a nuclear attack against the United States and its allies. And forces still are required, above all, to be ready to fight and win the nation's wars.

But with ``tens of thousands'' of U.S. troops now involved daily in such non-combat activities as providing humanitarian aid, helping foreign militaries and tracking drugs, ``peacetime engagement'' already has become another primary U.S. military task, the report says.

The document, which took nearly a year to draft, makes no attempt to reconcile the tensions being experienced by U.S. forces as they try to stay combat-ready while devoting more time and resources to peace operations.

The report offers little new on combat strategy. It stipulates that U.S. forces remain capable of winning two major regional conflicts nearly simultaneously. by CNB