Retaining the Initiative in Peace Operations - Tactical Negotiations and the Joint Military Commission

Abstract : Today's forces operate in the ever shifting and complex environment of intra-state and ethnic conflict. Marked by excessive violence and rising anarchy due to the disintegration of governing mechanisms, these conflicts pose new challenges to today's civilian and military leaders. In these conflicts, military leaders face the challenge of securing a peace between numerous factions in the absence of a fully recognized or functioning governmental structure. The monograph addresses the new environment of failed states and "how the tactical commander retains the initiative in peace operations" in the midst of ethnic conflict. The focus of the monograph is on the role and effectiveness of tactical negotiations in maintaining the tactical commander's initiative as he executes his mission and strives to achieve the desired end state. The monograph initially considers the strategic, operational, and tactical environment in which today's peace operations are conducted and the challenges they present to military leaders. Subsequently, the monograph examines Joint and Army doctrine as they pertain to Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), the conduct of stability and support operations (SASO), and the role of tactical negotiations. Negotiation principles and roles are also examined to assist in analyzing the effectiveness of negotiations in relation to the principles of MOOTW and SASO.