Middle East & North Africa

Env Sec Arabian Gulf 9-04 -- Chapter 6 --Multilateral Approaches To Security Cooperation On Environmental Issues Doctor Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard, LTC Curtis W Turner, John B Wheatley Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Mr. Curtis Bowling, Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) moderated this panel discussion. The objectives of the session were to promote environmental cooperation between defense and environmental authorities, identify opportunities for multilateral and interagency cooperation, explore the processes and mechanisms available to address consequence management planning, and describe the practical application of information age tools to enhance disaster response and consequence management planning."

Env Sec Arabian Gulf 9-04 -- Chapter 7 -- Breakout Workshops Reports And Recommendations Doctor Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard, LTC Curtis W Turner, John B Wheatley Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "The initial Arabian Gulf Environmental Security Conference conducted in Muscat, Oman in April 2000 identified major concerns and actions perceived as likely to impact military activities in the Arabian Gulf region. Using these identified concerns as focus points, it was the goal of this Armed Forces of Qatar-hosted Environmental Security conference to design a framework for a regional approach to environmental disaster prevention and response and put in place a long-term, sustainable process for achieving a regional capability."

Env Sec Arabian Gulf 9-04 -- Chapter 8 -- Closing Remarks Doctor Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard, LTC Curtis W Turner, John B Wheatley Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Closing remarks were made by General Tommy R. Franks, United States Army, Commander, United States Central Command; Ambassador Maureen E. Quinn, United States Ambassador to Qatar; and Major General Hamad bin Ali Al-Attia, Chief of Staff, Qatar Armed Forces. The remarks follow in the order of their presentation."

Env Sec Arabian Gulf 9-04 -- Exec Summary Doctor Kent H Butts, Prof Bernard F Griffard, LTC Curtis W Turner, John B Wheatley Study by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Environmental problems exacerbated by natural or man-made events can contribute to regional instability and conflict. Such environmental security related disasters hinder economic progress, displace populations, and facilitate the growth of undesirable elements and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Failure to respond to these events in a coordinated, timely and effective manner impacts a nation’s ability to govern and function. For these reasons, environmental security initiatives are key security cooperation vehicles for the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)."

Iraq 2003-4 and Mesopotamia 1914-18: A Comparative Analysis in Ends and Means Dr James D. Scudieri Student Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "This paper is a comparative analysis of the linkage between strategic ends with operational ways and means of the current operation in Iraq in 2003-4 and the British campaign in Mesopotamia in 1914-18. The two campaigns took place literally over the same ground. The United States now and Great Britain then both faced significant challenges to project and maintain military power in this part of the world. Moreover, the two great powers inherited daunting civil-military requirements in country. This study has restricted research to unclassified sources on Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Open-source research for an ongoing campaign greatly complicated attainment of a comprehensive understanding of the linkage between ends, ways, and means, but such an option facilitated frank debate with wider dissemination."

Effectiveness of Stability Operations During the Initial Implementation of the Transition Phase for Operation Iraqi Freedom COL Paul F Dicker Student Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "The United States’ strategic goal at the onset of the armed conflict in Iraq was to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime and to create a free, unified, and democratic Iraq. The necessity of having a unified Iraq derives from its strategic location in the Middle East and from U.S. commitments to other Middle East countries supporting the war effort, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan. In order to achieve this strategic goal, the coalition, led by the U.S. military, would need to first insure a secure and stable environment."

Leveraging the Media: The Embedded Media Program in Operation Iraqi Freedom Col Glenn Starnes Student Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Margaret Belknap writing in Parameters in 2002 commented, “The fourth estate [the media] offers a superb mechanism for strategic leaders and warfighters to transmit operational objectives and goals, as well as to reinforce policy objectives.” Ms Belknap stated that strategic leaders must be proactive in leveraging the media in order to inform audiences concerning objectives and end-states. She warned that if the military failed to leverage the media, they risked having the graphic images of war shown to the world and the American people in a distorted manner. Inaccurate or deceitful reporting of military actions could drastically affect the will and support of the American people, which is the strategic center of gravity for the United States (US). Loss of public support for a war could also affect the decision-making process at the strategic level. Essentially, Ms Belknap echoed the sentiment of many others who recommend the military cease holding the press at arm’s length. Instead, the military should embrace the press and leverage the media’s technology and worldwide reach to further strategic goals."

Swiftly Defeat The Efforts: Then What? The "New American Way Of War" And Transitioning Decisive Combat To Post Conflict Stabilization LTC John D Nelson Student Issue Paper by the US Army War College, Center for Strategic Leadership "Since the end of the first Gulf War in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm the United States has fought in three decisive operations: Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. The principles of Rapid Decisive Operations influenced the pattern and conduct of operations in all three conflicts. The success in the major combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom, led Max Boot, to call this a New American Way of War."

Strategic Ends in the Middle East LTC Raymond A Millen Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "At times, it is difficult to maintain focus on strategic ends while embroiled in a conflict. This is especially true as soldiers and marines battle Iraqi insurgents under close media scrutiny, while pundits question the Iraq war as a means to the Global War on Terror (GWOT) ends. As a topical issue of rectitude, the decision to invade Iraq needs to pass to the historians—continued debate on that issue is a distraction."