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Long Pole in the Tent

Advancing Civil-Military Relations in Multinational Operations Major General Michael G. Smith AO (Retd) Chief Executive Officer Austcare USI of the ACT Canberra 23 January 2008.

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Long Pole in the Tent

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  1. Advancing Civil-Military Relations in Multinational OperationsMajor General Michael G. Smith AO (Retd)Chief Executive OfficerAustcareUSI of the ACTCanberra23 January 2008

  2. Future multinational operations in the Asia-Pacific will require Australia to strengthen its operational capability in civil-military relations and to apply ‘human security’ to enhance prospects for a more sustainable peace. New thinking and a more integrated civil-military approach is required. Long Pole in the Tent

  3. Understanding civil-military relations and ‘human security’ Asia-Pacific Region Types of Multinational Operations – three block war (3BW) Building Human Security Strengthening the UN Four Key Initiatives Scope

  4. Civil-Military Relations

  5. Donors Foreign Govts UN + Agencies Foreign Military NGOs Local Population Host Govt Int Orgs Religious Groups Business Media Civil-Military Actors in Complex Emergencies - Military is only one actor - NGOs are only one of the civil actors

  6. (Mis)understanding NGOs “ I am serious about making sure we have the best relationship with the NGOs who are such a force multiplier for us, such an important part of our combat team. We are all committed to the same, singular purpose to help every man and woman in need, who is hungry, who is without hope, to help every one of them fill a belly, get a roof over their heads, educate their children, have hope.” US Secretary of State Colin Powell to NGO Leaders, 26 October 2001

  7. USMC/US Army Doctrine 2006 “To the greatest extent possible, commanders try to complement and not override their (ie. NGO) capabilities.” Counterinsurgency US Army Field Manual 3-24 USMC Warfighting Publication 3-33.5

  8. Human Security • Human Security • individuals • protection • empowerment • conscience • human rights State-Centric or National Security • war & territory • sovereignty • power & national interests REDUCE & MANAGE THREATS SUSTAINABLE PEACE & PROSPERITY

  9. Asia-Pacific Region • Loosely defined and very diverse • Largest region in the world • 60% of the world’s population • 55 countries as defined by the UN • From Iran and Armenia in the West, to French Polynesia in the East • From the Russian Federation and Japan in the North, to New Zealand in the South University of Melbourne Research Publication June 2003

  10. U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)

  11. Humanitarian Operations Warfighting Peace Operations Multinational Operations

  12. Three Block War (3BW) GEN Charles Krulac, Commandant USMC, 1997: “In one moment of time, our service members will be feeding and clothing displaced refugees, providing humanitarian assistance. In the next moment, they will be holding two warring tribes apart – conducting peacekeeping operations – and, finally, they will be fighting a highly lethal mid-intensity battle – all on the same day…all within three city blocks.”

  13. Humanitarian Operations Warfighting Peace Operations Convergence – 3BW

  14. Building Human Security Building Human Security

  15. Safe Geographic Area for Humanitarians to Operate Humanitarian Principles NOT Jeopardized Human Rights Policies are Assured and Implemented Humanitarian Space

  16. Humanitarian Principles Humanity • To bring assistance to people in distress without discrimination Impartiality • Action is based solely on need Neutrality • Humanitarian action must not favour any side in an armed conflict Independence • Humanitarian action must be kept separate from political, economic, military or other objectives DO NO HARM!

  17. CHANGE TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL SOCIETY POWER WITH CHANGE TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES CHANGE TO CONSCIOUSNESS & CAPACITY POWER OVER POWER WITHIN POWER TO ACT CHANGE TO CONDITIONS The Power of Human Security

  18. Battlespace or Humanitarian Space? • Civil & military endstates may not be the same. • Military actions are driven by political objectives. • Humanitarian actions are - or should be – driven by concern for the civil population. • When human rights is a key political objective, potential for cooperation is highest. • If the population is or becomes a military target, cooperation is very difficult for humanitarian actors.

  19. Can Military–NGO Interface Work? “…nowhere will you find more selfless, dedicated, and professional people than you will find at the operator level in the military and the humanitarian response community….For most, their work is not a profession; it is a calling.” Chris Seiple, The US Military/NGO Relationship in HumanitarianInterventions, US Army Peacekeeping Institute, 1996

  20. Security Logistics Communications Transportation Infrastructure (limited) Information (not intelligence) DO NO HARM Best Areas for Military-NGO Interface

  21. Winning Hearts and Minds? • On Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs): “…no matter how well-run and efficient a PRT appears, if it does not lay the foundations for stable local development once it departs, it will have done little to foster the activity of reconstruction to which its title refers.” Prof William Maley, NATO Review, Autumn 2007

  22. COMPLEX EMERGENCIES (FAILING AND EMERGING STATES) peace JUSTICE DEMOCRACY Human Rights DEVELOPMENT GOVERNANCE SECURITY Resources Financial

  23. Enhancing Protection • Ambiguous term • Responsibility to Protect (R2P) & UN mandates including protection of civilians • Humanitarian Protection: agreed definition of the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) & the ICRC: “The concept of protection encompasses all activities aimed at obtaining full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the relevant bodies of law (i.e. human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law).”

  24. Centres of Excellence

  25. Strengthening Commitment to the UN

  26. Continuing UN Reform • More successes than failures. • Brahimi Report 2000 – integrated missions. • World Leaders Forum Sept 2005: reinforced MDGs; agreed R2P, established Peacebuilding Commission. • DPKO, USG Guehenno’s “Peace Operations 2010” Memorandum to All Staff, 30 Nov 2005: 5 goals – preparedness, doctrine, partnerships, resources, integration. • Improvements to emergency response (CERF), 2006 and “cluster” lead agencies.

  27. Conclusion:Four Key Initiatives • Strengthen our approach to civil-military relations • Adopt and implement human security: • protection doctrine • human security as strategic guidance • Establish a Centre of Excellence to operationalise civil-military relations • Support UN and strengthen its effectiveness: • developed countries to do more!

  28. Final Thought! • Hearts & minds lessons of the Malayan Emergency must now be turned on their head. • For sustainable peace, a greater commitment to human security will be required based on a willingness to listen harder and learn from those that are being supported.

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