world-
Bi-polar During the time of the Cold War when countries would either fall
under two types: those that supported the US(Democracy) and those that supported
USSR(communism)
Multi-polar world- Nations no longer fall exclusively into the camps of the United
States or the Soviet Union, but range dramatically economically, socially and
politically in this new multi-polar world.
First time that the Radical Islamic movement began targeting Americans : Early
in 1980, terrorists prioritized diplomats and representatives of our military units.
Then they switched to big business attacks. Then Began targeting private citizens and
tourist in the mid 1980s
Failed states- a weak state where social and political structures have collapsed to the
point where the government has little or no control EXAMPLES: Somolia, Chad, Sudan
Failing States: Ex. Greece
Rogue Nations- is a controversial term applied by some international theorists to states
they consider threatening to the world's peace. This means meeting certain criteria, such
as being ruled by authoritarian regimes that severely restrict human rights, sponsor
terrorism, and seek to proliferate weapons of mass destruction. EX: Cuba, Iran
transitional nations- States which have a system of government which is in transition
or turmoil and are classified with the current direction of change Ex. Libiya
United States Combatant Commands:
o To exercise command and control over military operations, ten Combatant
Commands have been established.
o Six have regional responsibilities: U.S. Central Command, U.S. European
Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Southern
Command and U.S. African Command.
o Four of these are specialized commands, with specific missions that may be
performed in any region of the world, U.S. Joint Forces Command, U.S.
Special Operations Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S.
Transportation Command.
Goldwater - Nichols Act- The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense
Reorganization Act of 1986, sponsored by Sen. Barry Goldwater and Rep. Bill Nichols,
caused a major defense reorganization. Operational authority was centralized through the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs as opposed to the service chiefs. The chairman was
designated as the principal military advisor to the president, National Security Council
and secretary of defense. The act established the position of vice-chairman and
streamlined the operational chain of command from the president to the secretary of
defense to the unified commanders.
War Powers Act of 1973- is a federal law intended to check the President's power to
commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. The
resolution was adopted in the form of a United States Congress joint resolution; this
provides that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by
authorization Congress of or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the
United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."
OSS- was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the
wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA). The OSS was formed in order to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy
lines for the branches of the United States Armed Forces.
NGOs- There are three categories of NGOs according to the type of functions they
perform:
o -NGOs that provide immediate relief to the victims of war, natural
calamities, accidents, etc; NGOs that focus their concentration on longterm social and economic development and NGOs that concentrates on
social action.
National Security Act of 1947- This legislation consolidated the national defense
structure, established the Department of Defense, formally established the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and served as the foundation for the series of legislative and executive
changes that produced today's defense organization.
Central Intelligence Agency- Formed in 1947. It is an executive agency and reports
directly to the Director of National Intelligence, with responsibility for providing national
security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers. Intelligence
gathering is performed by non-military commissioned civilian intelligence agents, many
of whom are trained to avoid tactical situations. The CIA also oversees and sometimes
engages in tactical and covert activities at the request of the President of the United
States.
Posse Comitatus Act of 1878- that was passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of
Reconstruction. Its intent was to limit the powers of local governments and law
enforcement agencies in using federal military personnel to enforce the laws of the land.
Contrary to popular belief, the Act does not prohibit members of the Army from
exercising state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain "law and
order"; it simply requires that any authority to do so must exist with the United States
Constitution or Act of Congress
Netwar- pecializes in National Security and Intelligence, providing mission critical
defense utilizing the strategic use of Information Technology for Information Assurance
Four Functional Areas of intelligence Agencies
1. Collection
2. Analysis
3. Counter intelligence
4. Covert action
National Sovereignty - Under the concept of national sovereignty, the nation is superior
to the individuals of which it is composed. National sovereignty can be contrasted, on the
one hand, to absolutism and to other doctrines that see sovereignty as residing solely in a
monarch, aristocracy, theocracy or other small elite, and on the other hand to popular
sovereignty, which has more egalitarian implications.