Proceedings 1 | 2 | 3

Participants were asked to discuss and formulate responses on three levels - International/Regional, National and Mission.

Syndicates were free to discuss other topics that might have greater importance than those outlined. Some issues may have been thought about before the symposium began. The symposium designers may have neglected others that nonetheless were relevant to the participants as well.

In Discussion Challenge I, questions were designed to stimulate discussion without imposing constraints on the nature of the topics. They centered on under what circumstances a nation might consider participation and the environment created by missions operating under different rules.

The Combined Deployable Joint Task Force Augmentation Cell was presented as one tool for consideration by the participants in planning and conducting a peace operation. It's potential was evaluated in Discussion Challenge II.

Discussion Challenge III focused on aspects of training for peace operations and Discussion Challenge IV considered the opportunities and issues associated with training centers.

Discussion Challenge I: Questions

1. Having listened to some of the challenges of modern peace operations discuss:
   • How do you perceive that your Region or Nation might face these challenges?
   • What changes would have to be made, should your nation decide to deploy forces?
   • How important will regional arrangements become?
     
     
2. Most future operations will take place under Chapter VII.
   • What impact will this have on the composition, equipment and preparation of forces that have deployed?
   • What differences will this make in planning and deployment of peace operations forces?
     
     
3. Working with the many players that are found in modern complex emergencies will present an enormous challenge.
   • What impact do you believe these players will have in the mission area?
   • How do you envisage the working relationship between the deployed forces and the civilian component?
   • What do you feel are some of the methods that might be useful in establishing these relationships?

Discussion Challenge I: Findings

At the outset, participants made it clear that the decision by a nation to participate in a peace operation was a political one at all levels: international, regional, and national. Issues of sovereignty vs. intervention, the arguments for and against intervention with or without consent and human rights are cited as topics appropriate for evaluation by national leadership. Public support for a commitment of resources is very important. The nation's capacity and its forces' capability to participate must be carefully evaluated.

The decision to participate is based upon information available on the crisis event itself and the proposed response to it. Information on which to make a sound decision is frequently lacking.

Participants foresee that most operations will be conducted under Chapter VII. Chapter VII permits greater flexibility in the use of force, a necessity in intractable conflicts where the civilian infrastructure has completely broken down and force protection is a major concern of force-contributing nations. However, their ability to participate in a Chapter VII mission could prove problematic because the cost of participation is high and the capacity may not be there.

Participants cautioned against the use of Chapter VII without careful consideration of diplomatic solutions, but also felt that the threat of Chapter VII could help to bring the parties to the conflict to reach an agreement.

Chapter VIII could be an ideal solution, when agreeable to the countries in the region, because it would involve those nations most affected by the conflict and thus reflect positively on the region's ability to handle issues on their own, in their own "back yard". It is important to understand the role that a regional organization may play. Some examples cited were ASEAN, ARF and SARC.

Appendix A: Issues Identified in Peace Operations contains a list of issues derived from rapporteur notes.

Discussion Challenge II: Questions

1. How do you perceive CDJTFAC - as an operational or training tool?
   
2. What are the constraints on national participation?
   
3. What needs to be done on a combined basis? How do you achieve this?
   
4. When does combined planning begin for potential operations - is this a contingency planning tool?
   
5. Combined versus cooperative? How much combined is enough?
   • Command and control of forces?
   • Functional areas (J2, J3, J4, etc) - are they all combined?
     
     
6. UN and CDJTFAC - how can they relate?
   
7. What about standby arrangements?
   
8. What are the key enablers to make the concept work?
   • Personal relationships / knowledge
   • Common tasks / procedures
   • Communications architecture / language

Next Page