One of the most challenging tasks for this degree of cooperation
is to create a collaborative environment and build trust among
the local populace, national, international, and nongovernmen-
tal organizations. Closing the gap between military and civilian
actors ensures that all actors work towards a common, harmo-
nized and coherent goal. 22
Another challenge is the apprehension among politicians to
deploy troops in the homeland, due to the misconception that
legal powers granted to militaries by the constitution for inter-
nal defense would foster an imbalance in power between the
government and the military. Shared identity, values and norms
between military and civilian counterparts can ensure a balance
in civil-military relations, with agreement on critical issues serv-
ing as the cornerstone for cooperation. 23
Furthermore, with the growing economic, financial, and na-
tional budget challenges facing nations, political and military
leaders are searching for more cost-effective ways to integrate
militaries into non-traditional homeland tasks without losing
critical combat capabilities. A starting point to fill this gap
would be an approach for cross-governmental support, mutual
understanding, and mutual trust by sharing norms on tasks, ca-
pabilities, and responsibilities between military and civilians. 24
The decisive and growing military role in homeland security
implies maximization of interagency cooperation and integra-
tion of civilian and military capabilities.
Implications
A nation’s aversion to deploying troops in the homeland has
been a historical practice and a challenge to organizational
culture. Yet, a full range of threats and vulnerabilities confronts
the homeland and requires preparedness for contingencies. 25
Establishing new civilian standing organizations possessing the
necessary capabilities to address these threats would be probably
an expensive investment. The search for cost-effective solutions
has given rise to new demands for increased cooperation in both
military and civilian organizations.
Today’s global war on terror added more complexity to the
threat nations are facing. Militaries find themselves conducting
a multitude of military and non-military tasks on the homeland
scene. This demands the implementation of a holistic security
strategy based on a whole-of-government approach to address
the country’s security threats. Politicians increasingly recog-
nize the need for a constructive relationship with the military,
enabling a high level of responsiveness to growing security
requirements. Military and civilian leadership need to establish
homeland CIMIC to allow militaries to address the complex
security challenges facing the country.
In summation, it is important to remember that perceptions and
priorities generated by countries vary due to cultural, geograph-
ical, and mission-centric differences. In this backdrop, nations
have different definitions for CIMIC that might converge or
diverge depending on their policies. Homeland CIMIC enables
militaries to conduct a broad spectrum of missions, thus en-
hancing militaries' effectiveness and advancing internal security.
Political and military practitioners pursuing country's national
interests need to institutionalize homeland CIMIC as a holistic
approach that unifies military and government institutions.
Such a system is key for success in the domestic environment.
About the Author: Maj. Jean Dagher is a Lebanese graduate
from the United States Advanced Military Studies Program,
School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and the Com-
mand and General Staff Officer College, Command and Gen-
eral Staff College (CGSC) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He
received his Bachelor of Science in Military Studies from the
Lebanese Military Academy, Beirut, Lebanon. He also has a Di-
ploma in Finance from the Lebanese University in Beirut, and
an MBA degree from Arts, Sciences and Technology University
in Beirut. Maj. Dagher received his Masters of Military Art and
Science degree and his Masters of Arts in Military Operations
from CGSC. An Armor Officer by trade, he has served in an
Armor Battalion, Armor Regiment, and Ranger Regiment with
many operational experiences in Lebanon. He is currently serv-
ing as S4 in the second Intervention Regiment in Al-Zahrani
South Lebanon. For questions or comments about this article
please contact the author at [email protected] or Jean.
[email protected].
Notes:
Jean Dagher, The Lebanese Armed Forces Engaging Nahr
Al-Bared Palestinian Refugee Camp Using the Instruments of Na-
tional Power, Leavenworth, KS: Command and General Staff
College, June 2017, p. 43; Directorate of Orientation, “The
Mission of the Lebanese Army,” available from www.lebarmy.
gov.lb/en/content/mission-lebanese-army, accessed on February
22, 2018.
2
NATO, Allied Joint Publication (AJP) 9, NATO Civil-Mil-
itary Co-operation (CIMIC) Doctrine, Brussels: NATO
Standardization Agency, 2003; Department of Defense, Joint
Publication ( JP) 3-27, Homeland Defense, Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office, 2013, p. GL-9. Homeland
security is a concerted national effort of homeland defense and
defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) to reduce the coun-
try’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other
emergencies.
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