Interagency Cooperation: It's As Hard As You Think It Is

The Department of State has been charged with leading the interagency process for the U.S., including conducting stability and reconstruction operations harmonized with any planned or ongoing military operations. However, neither the State Department, nor national leadership has implemented the direction from the President leaving it to the military commanders. The regional commanders have accepted this responsibility and are driving the problem through JIACGs and interagency executive committees. As the military has learned to integrate their efforts, so too must the U.S. government learn to integrate the talents and capabilities of each agency. JIACGs are leading the way, but they are not the long term solution. This paper will illustrate the requirements for interagency cooperation, explore some of the ongoing work in this area, point out the gaps which remain, and develop possible solutions for the way ahead.