Getting More Out of FID and SFA: A Strategy for More Effective Foreign Internal Defense and Security Force Assistance As a Way to Build Partnership Capacity
Abstract
As part of its national security strategy to protect the homeland and secure U.S. interests abroad, the United States uses Foreign Internal Defense (FID) and Security Force Assistance (SFA) to build partner capacity. While U.S. military personnel are effective in training foreign forces at the tactical level of warfare, military planners lack the ability to anticipate how and when these efforts translate strategically into lasting security. This research report provides an analytical framework to evaluate the potential effectiveness of FID/SFA activities to achieve sustainable security outcomes that should be of value in addressing this situation. The study analyzes FID/SFA activities in two countries Mali and Niger, because they represent areas where conflict over the next 20 years is most likely. That conflict includes a mix of traditional and irregular warfare fought by U.S. partners (often failing or fragile states) against non-state actors that resort to terrorism to create tension against the local government. U.S. policy-makers and military planners, working with the governments of Mali and Niger in 2002-2003, could have benefited from the framework identified in this thesis and used it to identify areas of risk to the success of FID/SFA activities in these countries. This research report also offers predictive analysis for Yemen, Nigeria, and Tunisia and makes the following recommendations as the United States moves forward with partnerships globally: 1) make FID/SFA a strategic investment; 2) increase diplomatic pressure on partner government(s) to strengthen governance; and 3) build operational/strategic level progression plans that carry forward yearly. These efforts will better ensure that U.S. leaders direct America s resources wisely to achieve sustainable security outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 13, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA624819
Entities
People
- Greg Townsend
Organizations
- National Defense University