Transnational Crime and the U.S. Military
Abstract
The collapse of the former Soviet Union and other communist regimes in Eurasia contributed significantly to a dramatic increase in the national security threat, especially to European states, from transnational crime. The worldwide underlying trends supporting the growth in late 20th century transnational crime have been exacerbated in the European context, by the numbers and quality of new post-Soviet criminal recruits. Motivated, intelligent, equipped, possessing national level security and intelligence organization skills and contacts, these individuals and groups propelled the challenge posed by the existing Mafias to new levels. A political consensus is emerging that Transnational crime now posses a substantial threat to European democratic institutions. The non-implementation of portions of the Maastricht Treaty documents the concern. European national and international institutions are working vigorously to respond to the situation. The US military has been supporting international anti-crime effort since at least the formation of the anti-drug trafficking Joint Task Forces in the 1 980s. The military's participation has produced only a modest increase in the anti-trafficking success rate but they have not been sent back to the barracks. Success or not, politicians obviously believe that participation is just as important as results. The US experience suggests that European militaries will likely be drawn into anti-transnational crime efforts there. If this occurs, the US military would likely not be able to avoid engagement short of withdrawal. US European Command should begin planning now to assume a key role when so directed by the US NCAs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA328100
Entities
People
- David A. Hartmann
Organizations
- Naval War College