Finding an Exit: Delineating Battle Handoff in Phase IV
Abstract
Throughout its history the U.S. military has been almost solely responsible for "Phase IV" operations, despite the fact that the expertise required to execute the majority of post-combat stability tasks resides within other agencies. The current situation in Iraq has renewed U.S. government interest in this subject and as a result numerous initiatives are currently underway in an attempt to win the peace in a more effective and efficient manner. The U.S. government should exploit this interest by instituting policies that restrict U.S. military involvement to those conflicts absolutely vital to national security, ensure decisive force is in place at the onset of Phase IV operations, fully integrate the interagency at the onset of its planning for an intervention, ensure full funding of S/CRS initiatives, reestablish true unity of command for each phase of the operation, and focus on the security sector of stabilization and reconstruction tasks. Taken together, these actions will allow the U.S. to more effectively and efficiently execute stability and reconstruction operations, thus winning the peace and maximizing resource availability for the challenges of persistent conflict in the 21st century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA482277
Entities
People
- Roger S. Marin
Organizations
- United States Army War College