Minding the factors of public support: How lessons from Panama could prevent future Iraqs
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Authors
Handlan, Michael S.
Salazar, Michael D.
Subjects
Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty
Operation Iraqi Freedom
policy
strategy
strategic cooperation
legitimacy
public support
civil-military relations
Just War theory
Operation Iraqi Freedom
policy
strategy
strategic cooperation
legitimacy
public support
civil-military relations
Just War theory
Advisors
Simons, Anna
Date of Issue
2017-06
Date
Jun-17
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis poses the question Under what conditions can the United States government gain and maintain public support for the use of force? and contends that public support for the use of force is a byproduct of the interactions among four factors: the articulation of clearly defined political objectives; an appropriate strategy to enable the accomplishment of those political objectives; proper strategic cooperation; and the perceived legitimacy of the conflict. To demonstrate how national-level decision-makers can gain and maintain public support for the use of force, by appropriately addressing these factors, this thesis compares Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty in Panama with Operation Iraqi Freedom. In both instances, the United States sought regime change and many of the key decision-makers were the same. Yet, the United States fared much better in Panama than Iraq. A closer examination of our four factors--policy, strategy, strategic cooperation, and legitimacy--helps explain why.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.