The United States conducts modern peace operations to prevent, contain, or resolve regional conflicts that may pose threats to national interests. The facts upon which strategic decisions and agreements with involved parties are based may greatly differ from the realities the operational and tactical level commanders may find once they are deployed. Additionally, the operations these commanders are tasked to perform may result from long-term, maturing crises, such as one in which a peacekeeping operation is needed. Conversely, the operation may seek to relieve a humanitarian crisis, which can...