Accession Number:

AD1026539

Title:

The National Security Council Reform Project: Foundational Proposal for the Next Administration

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

The Atlantic Council of the United States Washington United States

Personal Author(s):

• Crocker,Chester A.
• Levin,Daniel
• Miller,David Jr C.
• Pickering,Thomas R.
• Kirby,Jason T.

Report Date:

2016-06-23

Pagination or Media Count:

49.0

Abstract:

There is a growing consensus that the United States has made serious mistakes in foreign and defense policy overthe past two decades. These problems can be observed in the administrations of both political parties. They are rooted both in a failure to define clearly our international strategic objectives and in the poor execution of what we have pursued. These issues have been aggravated by a failure to anticipate both the direct impact and the unintended consequences of our actions. This inability to effectively execute foreign policy and manage military force projection has eroded public confidence in our government and the perception of American leadership globally. This foundational report serves as a point of departure for the next administration. It contains the essential elements for building the most effective national security structure in the small window between today and the first hundred days of the next administration. The perceived simplicity of these foundational recommendations has eluded many of the preceding administrations that have tried to implement some of the elements that you will read here.

Descriptors:

• national security
• foreign policy
• international relations
• united states government

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE