Marine Samaritans: The Role of Police Constabulary Forces in Complex Contingency Operations

摘要

The international environment in the 21st century may be characterized by increasing crises and conflicts where instability will become the primary threat to security. Regardless of the specific nature of the future threat the United States must retain the capability to counter any threat across the entire spectrum of conflict, whether disaster relief or full scale war. The current National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement clearly defines a role for the U.S. military participating in complex contingencies such as humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in addition to its role of deterring aggression and winning the nation's wars. The challenge for the United States is to organize its armed forces with the requisite capabilities and force structure to meet future security concerns. The common thread in complex contingencies is one characterized by an unstable environment. Increased population growth, failing economic systems and environmental degradation are only a few of the root causes which threaten stability. The presence of these destabilizing factors will undoubtedly create complex contingencies which may require United States intervention. The symptoms of this instability are exhibited by communal violence where civil conflict is often rooted in traditional ethnic, tribal and religious animosities. Atrocities ensue where chaos overshadows civil rule and order. The end result is a monumental crisis in the social order in which the social and political fabric of a society become unraveled. Good intentions from nation's willing to intervene often fall short in providing an appropriate and timely response. Military forces, including those under United Nation's auspices, often lack the security and intelligence expertise to establish and maintain order to create conditions necessary for conflict resolution.