Focused Decision Making in an Ambiguous World: Defining Criteria for the Use of U.S. Force Abroad

Abstract

The United States is currently undergoing two periods of simultaneous transition the first involving significant changes in the international environment, the second centered around a transformation in the U.S. domestic political agenda. Within the context of these transitional events, the Clinton Administration is now being forced to deal with exceptionally complex situations involving the potential use of U.S. military force without the benefit of a workable framework for use of force decision making. In the view of the author, the absence of such a framework deprives the country's leadership of a critically essential tool of national security policy. Without further delay, this administration must move toward the establishment of a use of force philosophy that will enable it to engage in focused decision making concerning the commitment of U.S. force abroad in the ambiguous international environment of today's world.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA443191

Entities

People

  • David E. Graham

Organizations

  • National War College

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Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems

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  • Agreements
  • Cold War
  • Command And Control
  • Foreign Policy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • Human Rights
  • International Law
  • Judgment
  • Law
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Security
  • United States
  • United States Military Academy
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design