Faction Liaison Teams: A Peacekeeping Multiplier
Abstract
The United Kingdom's Joint Warfare Publication on Peace Support Operations stresses the need for effective liaison in order to prevent misunderstanding, friction, opposition and escalation of the conflict. Beyond this doctrinal support, little has been written to define how this liaison should be conducted. The purpose of this monograph is to fill part of that void. The monograph firstly examines peacekeeping and the reasons why liaison is so important to it, before analyzing the British Liaison structures that were used in Bosnia between 1992 and 1996. The review identifies certain issues that were key in shaping this structure. These issues were team structure, interpreters, command and control, communications and force protection. Subsequent analysis of them provides insights which are then used to develop a conceptual model. This model could be used as a skeleton upon which future faction liaison organizations may be built. The model proposed by this monograph is of a small team with one liaison officer, equipped with both secure and nonsecure communication equipment. The use of local civilian interpreters is recommended, as is the basing of the team in the local community, preferably in civilian housing. The core principle of this model is based upon the team's primary purpose being that of a directed telescope for the commander, one that is permanently focused on the factions command structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA387114
Entities
People
- Douglas M. Chalmers
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College