Unit 10

National Security Study Group--Hart-Rudman Commission

The Hart-Rudman Commission was to be bold and consider the reforms necessary to adapt to the next 25 years. It was to be the biggest reform effort since the National Security Act of 1947. It takes a broad definition of national security--be on the lookout for it as you read.The study was well received upon release, but not much came of it.

The study wasconducted in the last two years of the Clinton administration and was completed prior to George W. Bush's inauguration. It is not driven by the events of 9/11 that provided the advantage of hindsight to later studies, nor is it affected by the narrow focus on terrorism commonto some studies following 9/11 or the negativity often directed toward the Bush administration. One of the discussion questions asks you to consider how well the Commission understood the security requirements of the next quarter century and how well its recommendations resonate with what we know today.

It is my opinion that this report shows that the professional community well understood the needs of the new millennium. What followed in history is evidence of how painfully slow it is to put good and necessary ideas into practice even after a shock like 9/11.

This is your first study to examine. Make mental notes so that you can see the common themes shared by this and the studies that follow. Look for common themes associated with the National Security Council, Department of Homeland Security, catastrophic terrorism, State Department, and Congress.

My recommendation is to read the executive summary and the introduction carefully. That will provide you with a rough idea where specific detailed information is addressed in the entire study. Armed with that knowledge, you'll be able to more efficiently find the information you need for the discussion questions. But don't let me stop you from reading the entire report. This is an important study.

Required Reading

  • NSSG Phase III Report
  • Executive Summary(viii-xviii)
  • NSSG Introduction (pp 2-9)
  • NSSG Section III (pp 47-85)

Optional Reading

  • NSSG phase 1(Emerging Environment)
  • NSSG phase 2 (Strategy)
  • NSSG phase 3(Roadmap for Change)

Discussion Questions

DQ 1. Hart-Rudman foresight: How well does Hart-Rudman anticipate the first decade of the 21st century? Look for positive and negative examples.

DQ 2. Meaning of national security: Some think of national security being pursued by the military, tough-minded diplomats, and the intelligence community. How does theHart-Rudman conception of national security differ? Discuss the consequences of those differences.

DQ 3. Major Reforms: What are the most significant reforms proposed? Debate among yourselves which are the most urgent and which could make the greatest improvement.

DQ 4. Futures: Consider the four possible futures postulated by the study. Which of them seems most likely to you? Which is most desirable?

Lessons Learned

Submit a 350-word summary of what you have learned from this unit’s assignments, readings, and discussions and how they relate to your learning experience and work environment. Include all assigned reading, not just the reading associated with the DQs.

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