Can Force Protection and Theater Engagement Plans Peacefully Co-Exist in Countries with a High Terrorist Threat
Abstract
Based on President Bush's Inauguration Speech, the strategy of engagement will continue to be the foundation of U.S. foreign policy as it is enunciated in the National Security Strategy and the National Military Strategy. Since the national policies have not fundamentally changed with a new administration, it is incumbent on the military to adapt force protection procedures to permit the military to achieve successful engagement with high terrorist threat countries, thereby meeting the goals of the Unified Commander's Theater Engagement Plan. The terrorist attack on the USS COLE (DDG 67) was yet another "defining moment" or "watershed event" in the three successful terrorist attacks on U.S. military targets that started with the Marine Barracks, Beirut terrorist attack in 1983 and continued with the Khobar Towers Air Force facility terrorist attack in 1996 in bringing to the forefront of the nation's attention the national policy of engagement and generated an increased demand for force protection. The misguided solution to this problem would be to disengage from developing countries and focus engagement on other countries in the region in an attempt to shape the region. I will explore the policy of engagement and the three terrorist attacks to show that engagement is too important to quit and through better force protection the U.S. military can successfully conduct this policy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA392854
Entities
People
- John P Nolan
Organizations
- Naval War College