4-39. Compel involves maintaining the threat—or actual use—of force to establish control and dominance, effect behavioral change, or enforce cessation of hostilities, peace agreements, or other arrangements. Compliance is related to legitimacy. While legitimacy is vital to achieving host-nation compliance, compliance itself depends on how a local populace perceives a military force’s ability to exercise force to accomplish a mission. The appropriate and discriminate use of force often forms a central component to success in stability operations; it closely ties to legitimacy. Depending on the circumstances, the threat or use of force can reinforce or complement efforts to stabilize a situation, gain consent, and ensure compliance with mandates and agreements. The misuse of force—or even the perceived threat of the misuse of force— can adversely affect the legitimacy of a mission or the military instrument of national power. Lethal force is only used in accordance with the laws of land warfare and the rules of engagement authorized for an operation. (See FM 27-10 for more information on the law of land warfare.)