Can Interagency Cooperation Be Fixed?
Abstract
Recent struggles with stabilization and reconstruction in both Iraq and Afghanistan have forced the United States to take a harder look at these post-conventional conflict situations (the Phase IV and V) in order to figure out the root of our failures and fix it. That introspection has drawn many academics, politicians and military officers alike to examine interagency coordination for a solution. Although agreement on a solution seems distant, all agree that lack of interagency coordination must be addressed. This paper cites specifics of the interagency coordination problem and outlines some of the significant attempts at solutions to date. It analyzes those solution attempts, specifically where, how and to what degree they succeed and fail. The paper then uses that analysis to conclude that the Department of Defense, with its undeniable capacity and funding resources, would best serve itself and the other agencies by making several changes internal to the department. The paper groups these improvements into categories of education, organization and planning and describes how each proposed change would improve interagency coordination and thus better serve the nation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA470751
Entities
People
- Jana A. Vavasseur
Organizations
- Naval War College