Legislation as a Pathway to National Security Reform

Depending on the governmental structure of a given nation, the legislative assembly can wield significant influence on national security institutions. SOF is often used prior to hostilities and often in direct support to intelligence agencies executing tactical operations of strategic importance. Many nations lack the authority to maximize their SOF especially with the rise in “Irregular Warfare”, and policymakers are changing legal restrictions to SOF support of intelligence operations. This panel will explore best practices for drafting and passing effective national security legislation to support SOF. The U.S. case study is an interesting and well known example. In the United States the creation of USSOCOM and the position of an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD/SOLIC) was a result of the 1983 Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act in 1987. USSOCOM continued to evolve via subsequent National Defense Authorization Acts, continuously refining the role, responsibilities, and capability of USSOCOM as well as improving its interoperability with the other military services.

This session is closed to media