CNAS Releases Two Working Papers on the Future of the Force

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released today two important working papers, Contractors in Conflicts: Adapting to a New Reality and Time for Action: Redefining SOF Missions and Activities, as part of its ongoing work on the future of the U.S. military, which focuses on improving capabilities to confront future threats to our national security.

Contractors in Conflicts: Adapting to a New Reality, authored by CNAS President John Nagl and Senior Fellow Richard Fontaine, examines the problems exposed by the increasing reliance on private contractors in theater - including insufficient oversight, inadequate integration into operational planning, and ambiguous legal status - and its implications for successful military operations. In order for the United States to adapt to the key role that contractors will play in future hostilities – the authors note – the government must establish new policies and rules of the road.

This working paper is part of an ongoing CNAS project on Contracting in Conflicts and will culminate in a major capstone report released next year.  Download Contractors in Conflicts: Adapting to a New Reality here.

Time for Action: Redefining SOF Missions and Activities, authored by CNAS contributor Michele Malvesti, is derived from a larger study that will be published in spring 2010. In Time for Action, Malvesti - who served more than five years on the National Security Council staff, most recently as the Senior Director for Combating Terrorism Strategy - explores current organizational issues facing U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and offers recommendations for how to optimize SOF for success.
 
“By integrating and synchronizing activities as a united whole, the Special Operations community will be better positioned to disrupt and defeat threats and shape and enable environments in a world where SOF are increasingly relevant and in high demand,” writes Malvesti.
Download Time for Action: Redefining SOF Missions and Activities here.
 
###

 
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is an independent and nonpartisan research institution that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.