Nation Assistance Shaping National Security and Military Strategies for the 21st Century With a Cold War Policy
Abstract
Nation assistance has evolved into a vital tool for shaping the international security environment. It is a network of programs comprising security assistance, foreign internal defense, and humanitarian and civic assistance. Nation assistance programs play a major role in the U.S. engagement strategy to defend and protect U.S. national interests in an asymmetrical and multi-polar world. The definition, scope, and role of nation assistance have changed with the world that confronts the U.S. Its beginnings were the programs to rebuild a shattered Europe and Japan at the end of World War II. During the Cold War, it was a major part of anti-Communist containment tactics. After the fall of Vietnam it became quasi dormant until the collapse of the bipolar world in the early 1990's. The new and broadened scope of nation assistance is currently found in the National Security Strategy, the National Military Strategy, and the visions from successive Chiefs of Staff of the Army. It is integrated into the fundamental strategic approach of "shape, respond and prepare now" executed by the U.S. armed forces. Funding for nation assistance has to rely on the resources from the American people and their congressional representatives. It may be easier to get funding to feed starving millions than to provide sustainment funding for them now that Americans are no longer concerned about poor, less developed countries converting to communism. DoD has institutionalized nation assistance programs in its strategies and planning processes, and has given the geographic combatant commanders ownership and a stake in nation assistance's results to meet the new century's challenges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA377586
Entities
People
- Donna L. Mcmillen
Organizations
- United States Army War College