A Framework for Strategy Development

In 1997 the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) was mandated by Congress to undertake a comprehensive review of U.S. National Defense Strategy every four years. This review is titled the "Quadrennial Defense Review' of QDR. In preparation for the 2001 QDR, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) sponsored a study by the Rand Corporation designed to provide a structure that would guide the translation of strategic requirements to resource allocations, force structure planning and procurement. In the course of developing this study, Rand postulated a set of geo-political themes based on assessments of current global conditions. To begin with Rand noted that there is a global core of nation states characterized by established democratic institutions and free market economies. It can be inferred that these core nations were friendly to the U.S. and constituted the ideal world order. Again according to Rand out side of the core nations a wide variety of risks and opportunities must be dealt with at least in part by DOD strategic planning. For example Rand identifies Russia, China, and India as nations in transition to membership in core and recommends each be positively engaged to assist their transition into core nations. Other non-core states are identified as `rogue states' that may have to be engaged in militarily to be stop disruptive effects on the core nations. Another theme proposed by Rand is `Policing Instability' again with the goal of reducing the world order of the core nation states by creating the conditions that will allow for the development of democratic institutions and market economies by establishing internal order and security in failed states.. This is an interesting view of the world that is actually the strategic rationale for operation Iraqi Freedom and provides a coherent explanation of what was behind the otherwise flawed and confused rationale for the Iraqi war offered by the current administration. Although quite interesting this book is a rather dry read and not recommended for the general reader.