Global War on Terrorism: Executing War without Unity of Command
Abstract
The nature of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has led the United States to execute war with all elements of the national security apparatus. Because the United States Government (USG) fights this war with the interagency, it has maintained a strategic leadership framework conducive to unified action. Unity of effort, a military principle normally held for Operations Other Than War, has become the lead concept for exercising national power against today's threat. Unfortunately, history has proven that this concept does not work in time of war; inherent prejudices and jurisdictional safeguarding within large institutions such as the USG hinder and sometimes fail to achieve national objectives. This project examines the characteristics of the GWOT, how the USG is currently organized to fight it, why it cannot succeed without change, and what additional measures are needed to correct the situation. The research reveals unity of effort without unity of command cannot achieve the decisive action required in war nor the efficiency and effectiveness demanded by the American people. Recommendations are made to establish an executor of the National Implementation Plan for the War on Terrorism, an individual that can be held accountable for the execution of the GWOT.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469641
Entities
People
- N. J. Torres
Organizations
- United States Army War College