Multinational Operations and the National Security Strategy: The Modern Melian Dialogue

摘要

Thucydides included the Melian Dialogue as part of his epic, The Peloponnesian War. Historians doubt the speeches between the Athenian generals and the Council of the Melians ever took place as written, but its substance has become a classic excerpt in the 'Realist' versus 'Idealist' debate over international relations. Its timeless treatment of national interests, balance of power, alliances, and the nature of leadership make it as relevant today as when it was written in 416 BC. It has been 10 years since the end of the Cold War, and the United States is still seeking to define a suitable, feasible, and acceptable national strategy to fit the geostrategic environment of the early 21st century. For over 40 years, NSC-68 established the requirements for an all- encompassing national strategy - political, economic, military, and informational - designed to contain communist expansion. Alliances and coalitions played a major role in successfully executing containment, but now that the Cold War is over, what are the roles the United States wants them to play. It is current national policy that when it is advantageous, the U.S. must always be prepared to act alone. However, it is also stated policy that the U.S. can only achieve many of its security objectives through alliances and other formal military structures. Today, the efficacy of multinational alliances in executing Operations Other Than War is dubious at best, and the U.S. military finds itself drawn into increasingly smaller scale contingency operations where vital national interests are not at stake. The resulting Operations and Personnel tempo are taking a toll on the force. Assuming that it is prudent for the U.S. to remain engaged in regions of political, economic, and military importance, this paper addresses the following question: what is the contribution of multinational alliances and coalitions in securing important United States national security objectives in the next fifteen year period.