Hybrid War: A New Paradigm for Stability Operations in Failing States

摘要

Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 3000.05 identified stability, security, transition, and reconstruction (SSTR) as core missions for future US military operations. This policy envisions military operations in a variety of complex pre- and post-conflict environments. It commands military planners to expand their arsenal of resources for achieving this mission to include elements of economic, social, and political, as well as military, power. Thus, future strategic military plans will necessarily assume a kind of hybrid nature, embracing a spectrum of elements of national power. Historically, projection of the diplomatic, informational, and economic elements of national power and development of the programs that sustain them has been the jurisdiction of the interagency, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (IOs). However, where a hostile environment precludes deployment of civilians to implement such, the DoD becomes the only viable agency likely to succeed in the task. This paper develops a strategic concept for use by the US military in its future stability and security missions in pre-conflict environments. Further, this concept is adaptable for use in a variety of unstable environments. Finally, this strategic concept is designed to coordinate and transition to more traditional civilian programs as soon as the security environment permits.