Operations Other than War: An Interagency Imperative

The need for interagency coordination of activities in operations other than war is examined at the operational level of conflict. The OOTW paradigm integrates the military, political, economic, and informational instruments of national power. While the military option is not the primary choice, the military establishment is usually the principal facilitator of that policy. A consistent theme from analyses of conflicts the American military has recently been involved in, and of on-going operations is the command and control, planning, and execution shortfall at the operational level where strategic aims are linked to tactical plans, the matching of ends and means. The absence of an interagency forum and process continues to perpetuate the inability to effectively integrate and coordinate interagency requirements in an ever more ambiguous environment for conducting military operations. In the absence of interagency leadership below the NCA, the Department of Defense and CINCs' must assume responsibility for the interagency process. The Paradigm, Challenge, Interagency environment, Operational