Waging 'non-lethal' war

I wondered as I read the following article if any nation or group of people in the history of mankind has ever successfully walked the line between pacifism and battling an enemy with the intent to defeat them by any means necessary. Can a fighting force be trained to have as a main focus to do no harm to others? It seems like an oxymoron to me.

 
The US Army has deployed a unique version of the Stryker armoured vehicle outfitted with an array of non-lethal technologies, Jane's has learned.
Don Jarosz, a spokesman for the service's TACOM (tank-automotive) Life Cycle Management Command, confirmed that the service sent three Full Spectrum Effects Platform (FSEP) vehicles to Iraq in October. The new vehicles are operated by the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division - a Stryker-based unit.
Fielding FSEP paves the way for future integration of non-lethal technology on combat vehicles. Among other things, FSEP is equipped with floodlights, laser dazzlers and a loudspeaker system. It is supposed to provide an alternative to lethal armament in 'escalation-of-force' scenarios around checkpoints and traffic control points. Jarosz said the FSEP would enable soldiers to accomplish their mission "without resorting to deadly force".
The US military has struggled to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq, particularly around roadblocks and near convoys. Earlier in 2007, the Center for Army Lessons Learned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, issued a new handbook on the application of graduated force at checkpoints. The service has also revised training procedures at places such as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.

© 2007 Jane's Information Group