Joint Chiefs chairman makes case for non-military solutions
Joint Chiefs chairman makes case for non-military solutions
By Julian E. Barnes
Los Angeles Times; January 13, 2009
The country’s top uniformed officer said Monday that the Defense Department should be ready to tell civilian leaders when military force is not the best response — and be prepared to transfer resources to other agencies during times of crisis.
Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, previously has made the case for nonmilitary solutions to world problems, but his comments Monday were his most forceful to date on the subject.
They also came as he prepares to report to a new president who has pledged to strengthen America’s “soft,” or nonmilitary, power abroad.
Reacting to trouble spots is a natural reflex for the military, and the Pentagon’s willingness to respond ensures that it gets more resources. But its ever-present readiness means the military is frequently asked by top civilian leaders to do more.
“I believe we should be more willing to break this cycle,” Mullen said, “and say when armed forces may not always be the best choice to take the lead.”
