Week 5 paper NAtional Security ouncil structure comparrison
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Liberty University *
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501
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Political Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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docx
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5
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National Security Council Structure Comparison
Scowcroft VS Obama
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Abstract
The National Security Council have become throughout the years the epitome in how diplomacy and policies are conducted around the world. Some of the most difficult choices has been develop from this council and even the course of history re-wrote multiple occasion. In this paper
I will be addressing the similarities and differences from General Brent Scowcroft National Security structure under George W. Bush presidency versus Barack Obama administration. The most remarkable advantages of their structure in contrast with their weaknesses. Subsequently a plan proposal will be developed from this research targeting the National Security Structure under the current administration of President Joe Biden and the honorable member of the council.
National Security Council Structure Comparison
Scowcroft VS Obama
In 1947 from the need of the President to address national security and foreign policies, in a more structure and organized way was created
the National Security Council. By the President Truman administration, the congress approved the act of 1947, (PL 235-61 Stat. 496; U.S.C. 402). Retired Air Force General Brent Scowcroft became a military assistant for President
Nixon, he was a well know Soldier, respected scholar from a Mormon family while growing up. Some of the influences in his leadership style were taken from General Richard A. Yudkin, describe as a “intellectual master” of a new generation of Air Force staff officers who studied nuclear warfare (Sparrow, 2015). Crowcroft was considered as Humber in leadership and confident. The National Security Council follows two basic models, policy advocacy and the hones broker. Ensuring all the most relevant information is being brought to the attention. (Stevenson, 2013).
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Similarities
The retired General Bran Scowcroft decided from previous lesson learned while working for President Nixon to implement a change to the National Security Council. This change will maximize efforts, and increased interagency collaboration. He established a principal committee who will meet with the President and developed recommendations. The members of the group would be strictly seniors’ officers. The intention behind these meeting without the President were
intended to create cohesion in the decision-making process. (Stevenson, 2013). At the assistant secretary level, we can see another similarity between the two administration the variously policy
coordinating and interagency policy committee, these last one from President Obama administration. Their job was to create material to be presented at the incoming meetings.
During Bush administration member of the National Security Council were sent to handle
foreign affair policy in representation of the President and as mediator for policies implementation example of this Scowcroft was send to China with some other members of the council. Like President Obama assigned Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to become special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan (Stevenson, 2013). By doing this the president will have more direct influences in some affairs. Both administrations inherent difficult time by their predecessors. In the earlier decade of the 90s, The fallout of the collapse of the Soviet Union, humanitarian crisis in Somalia. While Obama was in the middle of The Global War on Terrorism.
The amount of meeting was limited to one or twice a week by the PC, for Obama first term of his
administration they were increase from several meetings a week and not limited to formal session were changed by lunches video conference they were intended to create and develop policy in consensus and bring options into the table for the president (Stevenson, 2013).
Differences
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One of the major changes despite following Scowcroft honest broker in Obama administration was the change to a major document the President Policy Directive (Fishel, 2017).
An interagency committee was created. Scowcroft was avid protecting the advisor position from congressional micromanaging as described in the book “
Transforming the World
P.43” Some of the major changes was the significant increase of the staff, under Bush presidency was limited to 40-50 personnel, and by Obama the amount was fluctuating between 300-350 (Fishel, 2017). Some of the National Security under Bush deviated from the norm allowing a more flexible decision process by relying in his inner cycler, Obama administration face more influence of the media, public, and even the congress for the same aspect. The merge of the Homeland Security and its staff with the NSC staff was another notable change by the previous mention leadership.
Obama added the Director of the CIA as a regular member of the Council and the White House Chief of Staff and the U.S. representative of the U.N. and consul to the president became regular attendees (Fishel, 2017). The complexity of the world during the administration and the inherent of a war cause many other policy changes that will differ from pre-establishments. The president Obama recurred to the Executive Power in some instances to circumvents congressional power to take some actions (Fisher, 2018).
Scowcroft models suggest that staff should stay away from operational procedures this will allow them to focus on the developments and bring recommendations while staying away from media influence. Under the lead of retired General Jim Jones, a formal memorandum instructing more interagency processes. Calling for transparency and predictability just to mention few examples. The end intent was to develop mutual agreement while delegating responsibilities.
Strength
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