National Power and the Interagency Process

Abstract

Inhibitions about using force can distance the military from participation in interagency decision making. As a result other instruments of national power may be exhausted before serious attention is given to the unique capabilities of the Armed Forces, and then only with a deep sense of having failed in employing other means. The interagency process, especially when military planners are involved throughout, can represent a significant force multiplier, but it suffers from deficiencies in methods, actors, and structure. Military officers, accustomed to a settled and demanding system of staff work, may be frustrated by governmental mechanisms which are known for elasticity and ambivalence. But the military should remain engaged in the interagency process both to make it more effective and to ensure that the military voice is heard at the table. Officers can educate the interagency community about military capabilities and, more importantly, about the limitations of force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA525655

Entities

People

  • George T. Raach
  • Ilana Kass

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cold War
  • Command And Control
  • Command Centers
  • Crisis Management
  • Department Of State
  • Education
  • Language
  • Military Capabilities
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Personality
  • Security
  • Task Forces
  • Training
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.