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Return to Article: Pentagon, State struggle to define nation-building roles

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  To last commentators, I think the Bremer experiment shows that free enterprise quite simply does not function without a strong State-run administration focusing and controlling the work. Moral and competent capitalism does not thrive in conflict zones, staterun dicipline is needed. Its an interesting challenge to religious freemarketeering as a ideology, but in the real world it has always been a reality. See tradeagreements, etc.

  M. Knutsen Posted April 7, 2008 8:39 AM
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  Actually, the default these days is to use the private sector. Something that works amazingly well.

  Government civilians are not going to be sent to places like Somalia unless the government knows it is safe, even if they want to volunteer. But in Somalia private companies are already on the ground supporting the peacekeepers - also in Darfur, the Congo and Haiti. They bring robustness and virtually unlimited global resources.

  Many companies are involved in civil affairs - maybe they see a greater value in the specialization than either the government or the military. Although too often ignored by specialists, it is the private sector that is providing the bulk of the manpower and services to international peace and stability operations. It actually works quite well and is amazingly cost effective.

  And one key point that is also often missed: the private sector does not make policy decisions, it implements policy decisions.

  I often make the point that it is the private sector that is truly revolutionizing the international community's ability to do nation-building. The U.S. government's new focus on nation-building is welcome and our industry fully expects to be a key partner in ensuring success.

  Doug Brooks Posted May 9, 2007 9:40 AM
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  State Department can't get enough folks to "volunteer" for Iraq these days. What makes them think some future civilian volunteers will somehow be available to serve in equally dangerous environments? Very unlikely!

  If the US Army hadn't overused (and oversold) Civil Affairs units that might be the preferred option here (a hybrid approach), but, unfortunately, with two long ongoing wars (and multiple deployments) many CA Reservist soldiers are heading for the exits.

  Plan B: Persuade some people to draw a salary (retainer) as part of a "civilian corps" and say they're 'available'? Note - they will do so knowing full well they can opt-out of the nation building (they signed up to do) if they don't want to go. Hope that's not a problem.

  Plan C: Declare that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) somehow extends to these civilian "volunteers" to force them overseas (or go to jail) to do the nation building... but a phone call to a Congressman would probably end that little problem.

  Solution may be to do like the Chinese and have the 'hearts and minds' campaign run by the corporations, such as the ones building the pipelines in Africa. They also build the local schools, clinics, etc., to help protect their investment. It just makes good business sense.

  FJ Posted May 1, 2007 12:05 PM