The purpose of this paper is to determine if the role of the military can be improved in ending limited wars.In examining this problem it was determine' that wars drag on due to a number of factors related to: (I) frequent failures of policy makers in exercising their planning responsibilities; (2) deleterious effects of politics, the public, and diplomacy on war termination; and (3) difficulties in fighting limited wars.These problems are discussed based on data from related studies, memoir literature written by individuals occupying key governmental positions, and other miscellaneous doc",ments providing historical or general background information.The study concludca that the multifarious problems associated with war termination do not lend themselves to simple solutions and every effort should be made to end wars before they begin. Should deterrence fail, actions and decisions related to the selection of limited wai objectives, establishment of political constraints, development of conflict termination plans, employment of military power, and 6c'_Icita-tion of public support should be modified to prevent repetition of errors committed in the. conduct of prior wars.