Origins and Missions of U.S. Combatant Commands
The history, missions and operations of the nine U.S. military combatant commands (COCOMs) are detailed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
Collectively, these military commands operate across the globe. “In a grand strategic sense, the [Unified Command Plan] and the COCOMs are the embodiment of U.S. military policy both at home and abroad. The COCOMs not only execute military policy but also play an important role in foreign policy,” the CRS said.
The CRS report presents some critical discussion of the role of the COCOMs in shaping U.S. policy. The report cites a series of stories by Dana Priest in the Washington Post in September 2000 which said the COCOMs “had evolved into the modern-day equivalent of the Roman Empire’s proconsuls– well-funded, semi-autonomous, unconventional centers of U.S. foreign policy.”
“Some national security experts consider this [Washington Post] series as the catalyst of the continuing debate as to whether or not COCOMs have assumed too much influence overseas, thereby diminishing the roles other U.S. government entities play in foreign and national security policy,” the CRS report said. “The assertion that COCOMs have usurped other U.S. government entities in the foreign policy arena may deserve greater examination,” the report added.
Congress has prohibited CRS from making its publications directly available to the public. A copy of the report was obtained by Secrecy News. See “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Background and Issues for Congress,” November 7, 2011.
“We really wanted a range of perspectives – specifically from voices that have been traditionally left out of the conversation”
The joint advocacy effort calls for the establishment of an effective AI governance framework through NIST, including technical standards, test methods, and objective evaluation techniques for the emerging technology.
Understanding the implications of climate change in agriculture and forestry is crucial for our nation to forge ahead with effective strategies and outcomes.
Alexa White’s journey into the world of science policy started back when she was earning her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry at Howard University.