Americas Overseas Presence in the 21St Century

By Department of Defense

Book Id: WPLBN0000004713
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 1.54 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Americas Overseas Presence in the 21St Century
Author:	Department of Defense
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Military, Armed Forces., National defense.
Collections:	Military and Armed Forces Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Department of Defense


Citation APA MLA Chicago Of Defense, B. D. (n.d.). Americas Overseas Presence in the 21St Century. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Description
Government Reference Publication

Excerpt
Excerpt: Since the early days of our nation’s history, America’s overseas representatives have been on the front line of efforts to build support for democracy, to maintain peace, and to promote prosperity around the world. Today, the men and women who serve our country in embassies and other posts abroad face a complex array of challenges to improve relationships within the civil society, as well as with the government of the host country; to build institutional foundations for the rule of law; to promote U.S. products and services around the world; to fight against terrorism, weapons proliferation, international crime, and threats from disease; to foster global alliances on environmental and trade policy; and to provide services to the millions of Americans who work and travel abroad, as well as to foreign citizens and refugees escaping from natural and human disasters. This imposing list should convince anyone of the importance of our overseas presence. It should also suggest the scope of the challenge to organize, staff, equip, and secure our overseas representatives to enable them to do their essential work.

Table of Contents
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 I . INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 I I. FINDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 The Panel’s Findings..........................................................................................................16 Prospects for Reform ........................................................................................................21 I I I. THE RATIONALE FOR AMERICA’S PRESENCE OVERSEAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 Beyond the Cold War Rationale........................................................................................23 New Importance of Traditional Functions ........................................................................24 An Expanding Agenda ......................................................................................................26 The Risks of Withdrawal ..................................................................................................29 IV. REDESIGNING AMERICA’S OVERSEAS PRESENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Implementing the New Design ........................................................................................32 From Hierarchy to Network ............................................................................................ 34 V. ELEMENTS OF A NEW DESIGN ..........................................................................37 The Security America’s Representatives Deserve .............................................................. 37 Create the Right Size and Location for America’s Overseas Presence ................................41 A New Way to Finance and Manage Our Overseas Presence ............................................44 Increase Investment in People and Reform Human Resources Practices ............................51 Immediately Upgrade Our Information Technology ........................................................56 Reinforce and Further Improve Consular Services............................................................ 58 Reform Administration.................................................................................................... 62 Enhance and Refocus the Role of the Ambassador ............................................................64 Implementing the Recommendations................................................................................66 VI. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 MEMBERS OF THE PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71