Challenges to Coalition Operations Col (Ret) Peter Leentjes Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Introduction We have heard a lot about the global coalitions Need to examine and understand what this means Particularly important for the military

AIM What are coalitions (particularly those that might support Peace/CT operations) Key issues in Coalition Operations Lessons Learned Interoperability in coalitions Guidelines for Future Coalition operations

Global Coalition Against Terrorism Terrorism declared a threat to “International Peace and Security” 162 Nations have supported the UN resolution on terrorism 20 or more Nations have participated militarily in the operation in Afghanistan 48 countries provided indirect support to operations including: Intelligence Over flight rights Basing This is unprecedented but is it a coalition?

Coalitions in Peace/CT Operations Defined as a temporary combination of parties that retain distinctive principles Coalitions for Peace/CT operations need to be: Broadly based Capable of operating on many fronts Able to assume risks Involve unprecedented cooperation

International Coalitions Political Coalitions (UN, EU, ASEAN, AC Conference of Islamic Nations) Permanent Military Coalitions (NATO) Temporary Military Coalitions (UN PKOs, Gulf War, Afghanistan) Humanitarian Coalitions (Red Cross, UNHCR) Trans-National Coalitions (Interpol) Anti drug Trans national crime Border security Economic/Financial/ Development Coalitions (UNDP, SADC, APEC)

To Fight Terrorism Will need a broad base of all these coalitions Key will be the: Political Coalitions – to provide the prolonged international support to the war on terror Military Coalitions – to provide capacity when needed to take appropriate action Economic coalitions – to deal with the financial sanctions intended to cut off support to terrorism Trans-national coalitions – to limit cross border criminal activities that contribute to terrorism Examine the issues surrounding the development and operations of the Military coalition of the willing

Military Coalitions Permanent Coalitions Alliances such as NATO which have a treaty based series of agreed missions, such as collective defense of its members Coalitions of the willing (MNF) Nations who come together to deal with a specific issue, generally based on an agreed mission, limited time duration and a limited geographical area of operations

Coalition Features Supported by a UN Resolution provides legitimacy for intervention Provides authority for use of force Establishes International Credibility Generates International & Regional Support Spreads the Cost Burdens of Intervention

Problems of Coalition Participation Added complexity of combined operations Cumbersome network of military command National command issues create difficulties Generally exceeds span of control Decision making is slow Consensus creation takes time Standards of force capability & levels of military training vary Differences in language, tradition, doctrine & culture impact on operations -Cumbersome military command network – broadest level of participation, issues of national command, sovereignty, lack of standardized comms, no multi national doctrine -Decision making is inherently slow – constrained by UN mandates or national concerns, safety of national forces, national political agenda, new situations require time -Consensus building is slow process

COMPRESSED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT COALITIONS COMPRESSED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL Stress to staffs that may not have skills at all levels There are political elements that may bypass the operational level and influence only the tactical aspects of the mission and vice versa – this sometimes leads to operational commanders feeling left out of the control process. ( Call from the Secretary General ) TACTICAL The compression may not simply be vertical

Criteria for Success A Coalition force needs military capabilities to succeed An effective capability to conduct civil-military relations Cannot substitute for: Adequate force structure Personnel with training and experience Intelligence capacity Capacity for planning and coordination Communications systems

Keeping It Simple Watchword in coalition operations – difficult to achieve Levels of sophistication in of weapons, training, communications, language & technical aspects may differ Use a combination of tools: Assign geographical & functional responsibilities Assign forces together that have a history of working together Use mission assignments that task to capacities Be sensitive so that home governments are receptive Making simple plans within a coalition requires sophisticated and complex decision making and coordination

When There Is a Lack of Confidence in Coalition Leadership Forces assigned to the coalition will: Operate under a variety of national employment restrictions Maintain direct contact with national governments for direction Negotiate missions; not accept assigned ones

LEAD NATION CONCEPT Offers a solution to problems that exist within UN operations Generates political will, rapid deployment, consistent planning Offers a common base of doctrine which can be adopted or adapted by participating nations Capable of operating in a higher risk environment Unity of command is better, with a lead nation commander Regional power’s national interests may not make them ideal lead nations. Internationalization is important Very few nations have the capacity to be a lead nation, without extensive strategic lift and logistics support

INTEROPERABILITY IN COALITION OPERATIONS Interoperability in coalition operations is more focused on human interaction than technological compatibility. Multi-lateral coordination and cooperation in training, seminars and exercises are excellent tools to enhance interoperability. Interaction builds trust & comprehension, common understanding and develops habitual working relationships. Interaction needs to take place at all levels from the strategic to the tactical

DOCTRINE IN COUNTER TERRORISM OPERATIONS Doctrine is a key aspect of interoperability A comprehensive doctrine may not be possible or wise Guidance for nations should include: Philosophy Principles Terminology and definitions Guidance on key issues like Use of Force (ROE) Common operating procedures Additional guidance will be needed to support each Peace/CT operation

KEY ASPECTS OF INTEROPERABILITY Human Interaction Doctrine Training standards Guidance for use of force and ROE Civil military operations Common logistical acquisition strategies

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Military Plans & Operations need to be segregated from but informed by the other activities associated with the Operation Political, humanitarian, police, national Rich set of command arrangements in addition to the operational military C2 is required

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Military activities need to be controlled at the Adaptive level Potential actions need to be coordinated early Contingency plans triggered by patterns of action Standards for equipment and doctrine created to facilitate real time action

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Command Arrangements & C2 must operate effectively Functional communications systems Exchange of information Exchange of liaison personnel Open meetings of all entities Information exchange

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Time-Tested approaches and Techniques should be used to simplify the Coalition Operation Assignment of missions based on capability Assignment of separate physical space Use of coordination teams Exchange of liaison officers Create informal communications networks Use mission type orders

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Principles of Counter Terrorism operations differ and need to be balanced at the strategic, operational and tactical levels Unity of effort Consensus planning Simplicity Adaptive control Transparency of operations (to participating Nations)

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Provide each Level of Command with appropriate capacity Qualified personnel Experience Linkages Information handling capacity Information technology Translators Liaison personnel

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Limit the Number of Subordinate Organizations reporting to Key Commanders Group smaller participants under a regional commander

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Mission Oriented Directives support the Decentralized Nature of Operations Based on contingency plans Previously agreed courses of action

Guidelines for Coalition Operations Make Investments prior to participation Standards for all aspects of Peace/CT operations Development of doctrine (international) Conduct seminars, war games and exercises Create systems to exchange information between agencies Develop contingency plans as guidelines Develop valid and reliable assessment tools