Interagency Smart Power Approach from the Sea

摘要

Major shifts in U.S. military policy, especially Naval policy, triggered by the success of tsunami relief, culminated in the recognition and application of the emerging concept known as smart power. The new maritime strategy, A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Sea Power, expanded the Navy's core capabilities while emphasizing the importance of stability, security and international partnerships. Increasing numbers of maritime smart power missions that the Navy has conducted since the tsunami underscore the influence of this new strategic approach. Arguably, the Department of the Navy leads the military in applying smart power, yet could further develop its use by building a sustainable sea-base to support task organized interagency teams. Civilians would lead this interagency task force, but the U.S. military, particularly the Navy, would provide the crucial infrastructure and logistics support to make such an endeavor both operational and sustainable. U.S. embassies and the regional Combatant Commands would serve as the primary enablers at the strategic and operational levels, while the sea-base, Provincial Reconstruction Teams and Marine Corps company-level units would comprise the primary tactical military components of this interagency model. The mobility, security, sustainability and flexibility of such an approach would present a practical option to interagency, nongovernmental organizations, international, and other partners in the conduct of crisis response and developmental assistance. This paper includes six main sections: 1) introduction; 2) overview of soft and smart power; 3) discussion of smart power and the interagency/whole-of-government approach; 4) smart power case study applications; 5) analysis of current capabilities and options; and 6) prescriptions/recommendations.