IMPROVING THE INTERAGENCY PROCESS
TO FACE 21ST CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES
TO FACE 21ST CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES
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When: May 12, 2005 Location: The Henry L. Stimson Center 11 Dupont Circle, Suite 900 Washington, D.C. Co-sponsored By: The Henry L. Stimson Center The Henry L. Stimson Center will conduct a one-day working group meeting to develop achievable recommendations for improving the capacity of the interagency to meet 21st century security threats. This working group will build upon the panel that the Stimson Center organized for the 2004 Eisenhower National Security Conference. It will convene a small group of experienced practicioners and scholars, with a goal of identifying some feasible, short to medium term improvements in national security decision-making and policy implementation. |
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Overview: At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States relied on a national security interagency system that is firmly rooted in the National Security Act of 1947. The major changes to the system have occurred either within departments (the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986) or the creation of new organizations (recently, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence). However, the core interagency system for national security has remained relatively consistent for decades. The performance of the interagency system in the September 11th attacks, the Global War on Terrorism, Iraq reconstruction, and other areas have led an increasing number of government officials and analysts to call for reforms. Many have called for Goldwater-Nichols type reforms—or even the very same measures—to be applied throughout the interagency system. Still, reforming the interagency system is a daunting challenge due to the number of institutions and activities involved, and not all lessons from Goldwater-Nichols are appropriate or relevant to the government-wide problem. A Practical Approach: The Stimson Center will convene a small group of people with academic and practical experience who are interested in problem solving. Short of amending or rewriting the National Security Act of 1947, the workshop will look for practical suggestions that would improve information sharing, the policy culture and values, training of national security professionals, and other issues. The Stimson Center will publish the working group report in hard copy format and electronically on its website, and would plan to brief the results of the workshop to appropriate officials in executive branch agencies and in Congress. Downloads: Background Information for Participants (.doc) Conference Agenda (.doc) |