How to Assess an Exit Strategy: Measures of Merit for Compliance

摘要

In order to exit from a theater such as Iraq, where the objective is to ensure a secure environment, it is necessary to change the intentions of non- compliant parties. Relying on indices such as numbers of incidents/fatalities is not enough; only parties intentions can tell us whether the environment is likely to deteriorate after the military force has left. Commanders must rely on cooperation from civilian agencies to affect a change in the intentions of non-compliant parties the agencies control many of the necessary carrots and sticks. A plan for achieving compliant intentions is implemented first and foremost by the commander as shooter. Line commanders at each level have to work with civilian agencies to put pressure on non-compliant parties at their level. They do this by interacting personally (or through their immediate delegates) both with representatives of civilian agencies and with non- compliant parties. A system for Command and Control of Confronting and Collaborating, or a C2CC system, supports joint strategy formation and implementation by a coalition of the International Community. This paper discusses valid Measures of Merit for such a system, and applies them to a fictitious example based on experience in NATO exercises.