Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called for the United States and NATO to integrate their military and civilian efforts, and that such coordination is crucial to success in Afghanistan and future military interventions.
These comments are consistent with a new RAND Corporation report, "Integrating Instruments of Power and Influence: Lessons Learned and Best Practices," which was provided to Secretary Gates.
Among the report's key recommendations:
+ The United States needs to shift substantial resources to the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development;
+ U.S. leaders should delegate spending authority to the field level and require civilians and military officers to gain extensive cross-agency experience;
+ A major increase in U.S. funding of non-military activities, including adding at least 6,000 Foreign Service Officers for the State Department, 2,000 for USAID and recreating a separate "United States Information Agency";
+ Deployed U.S. personnel must build international partnerships with NATO, the EU and the UN, and should focus on breaking down barriers of cooperation between NATO and the EU.
The report was developed to provide a set of national security recommendations to the incoming presidential administration and new Congress. The effort was led by the RAND Corporation and the American Academy of Diplomacy.
