Preventing Genocide: A Framework for Military Planners
Abstract
Genocide and mass atrocities are a threat to the international order. They impact global security and ultimately the interests of the United States. The President has asserted that the United States is committed to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities. Recent efforts to prevent or intervene in such crimes have achieved a certain measure of success. One of the challenges of dealing with genocide and mass atrocities is truly understanding the problem and having broad strategic goals that can be translated into a practical operational-level approach for a theater-level commander. This thesis examines genocide, examples of genocide since World War II, and the conditions that tend to define the prelude to mass killings to derive useful policy decision points for political and military leaders who are contemplating intervention. A case study (Rwanda) will be used to illustrate these indicators as they could have been applied to this historical event. Joint doctrine and the tenets of operational art and design will then be used to lay a framework for how Mass Atrocity Response Operations (MARO) could be conducted to secure a population. This operationalization of response will identify a Joint Force Commander's requirements for success and provide recommendations for operational commanders tasked with MARO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA562165
Entities
People
- Matthew S. Furlong
Organizations
- National Defense University