Who Should Have the Hammer? Leadership of SSTR Planning and Operations
Abstract
It is easy to point fingers when it comes to our collective shortfalls in Stability, Security, Transition and Reconstruction (SSTR) planning and execution. Recent attempts at refining direction and organization have gone a long way towards developing constructs to achieve better unity of effort across USG entities, specifically the Departments of State and Defense. However, shortfalls remain in U.S. ability to plan and execute SSTR operations as dictated. This paper argues that DoD should lead planning and execution of SSTR operations as it is the only department with the planning expertise and capacity to set conditions for executing key tasks in order to achieve national strategic objectives. Data on defining the key tasks associated with SSTR and current guidance from executive and departmental branches is provided. Additionally, a brief examination of key historical operations is discussed, and capacity, capability and expertise to execute the common key tasks is addressed. Finally, conclusions on these topics and U.S. ability to execute as written across the USG departments and agencies are suggested, and recommendations to maximize capacity and synergy to better set conditions to achieve national strategic objectives in SSTR operations are provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 23, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA513919
Entities
People
- Byron B. Anderson
Organizations
- Naval War College