Recent Publications

Finding “The Right Way”: Toward an Army Institutional Ethic
September 1, 2012 — Author: LTC Clark C Barrett The ethical lapses exemplified by Abu Ghraib, Mahmudiyah (Blackhearts), and Maywand (5/2 Stryker) are distressing symptoms of an even bigger, and a potentially devastating cultural shortcoming. The U.S. Army profession lacks an institutional ethical framework and a means of peer-to-peer self-governance. The frameworks... MORE

Project on National Security Reform – Vol. 2: Case Studies Working Group Report
March 1, 2012 — Author: Dr Richard Weitz The case studies in this volume confirm the conclusions of other PNSR analyses that the performance of the U.S. national security apparatus in inconsistent. Although some cases illustrate relatively clear, integrated strategy development, unified policy implementation, and coherent tactical planning, coordination, and... MORE

Cover for Project on National Security Reform - Vol. 2: Case Studies Working Group Report

Decisionmaking In Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: The Strategic Shift of 2007
May 1, 2010 — Author: Dr Steven Metz In this second volume of the series, Dr. Metz looks carefully at the 2007 decision to surge forces into Iraq, a choice which is generally considered to have been effective in turning the tide of the war from potential disaster to possible—perhaps probable—strategic success. Although numerous strategic decisions remain to be... MORE

Decisionmaking in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: Removing Saddam Hussein by Force
February 1, 2010 — Authors: Prof John R Martin, Dr Steven Metz In 1946, General Walter Bedell Smith wrote a series of articles describing six great decisions made in World War II by General Dwight David Eisenhower Writing so soon after the war, General Smith could not hope to produce a definitive history, but felt that writing then would document an important... MORE

Stifled Innovation? Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
April 1, 2002 — Author: Dr Leonard Wong The author examines the current company commander experience and concludes that the Army values innovation in its rhetoric, but the reality is that junior officers are seldom given opportunities to be innovative in planning training; to make decisions; or to fail, learn, and try again. If the transformed Army will require... MORE

The Impact of the Media on National Security Policy Decision Making
October 1, 1994 — Author: Dr Douglas V Johnson II What is the impact of the media upon national security policy decision making? Do network news personalities exert genuine power over the national command authority? Does the photograph of a mob dragging the body of a dead American soldier through the streets drive policy decisions? If the answers to these questions... MORE

The Military-News Media Relationship: Thinking Forward
December 1, 1993 — Authors: Dr Rod Lyon, COL Charles W Ricks, Prof William T Tow Over the course of the next six months, the Strategic Studies Institute will examine the impact of the media's technological advances on strategic and operational level planning and policymaking, first in an overseas theater, and subsequently on decisions made at the national level. The... MORE

Strategy, Forces and Budgets: Dominant Influences in Executive Decision Making, Post-Cold War, 1989-91
February 1, 1993 — Author: Dr Don M Snider The successful application of national military strategy depends upon the existence of a balanced, flexible military establishment; a national force structured, manned, equipped, and trained to execute the broad range of potential missions that exist in the post-cold war world. With this in mind, the national leaders of the... MORE