By Edward J. Hagerty, Ph.D.
Program Director, National Security Studies at American Military University
Israel is rattling sabers and forcefully denouncing Iranian negotiations over its nuclear program as merely a stalling tactic, while Washington and its allies prepare to meet soon in further efforts to deter Iran from its nuclear goals. Could there be a settlement at hand, or will an Israeli strike lead to a wider regional conflict?
Meanwhile, Syrian troops and renegade government-supported militia groups continue to massacre innocent civilians in that country as the U.N. rings its hands in yet another admission of impotence. Washington says it’s not interested in military engagement there, but is international intervention imminent?
In Southern Yemen, emboldened Al-Qaeda operatives recently attacked a Yemeni military base killing 20 soldiers and capturing another 20 more of them. Will the Yemeni government root out Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula AQAP with U.S. support, or will this continue to grow as a hotbed of radical activity that will require American troops to squelch?
While it might seem from these examples that Southwest Asia and the Middle East are tinderboxes ready to ignite, U.S. strategic focus is already looking elsewhere for the next area of effort. The Obama Administration has clearly signaled that a shift in military focus from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) is on the near horizon. Such a shift would no doubt please U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, III, the USPACOM commander. Locklear’s combatant command covers over half the earth’s surface and is host to three of the world’s largest economic powerhouses. Any conflict there could potentially involve the Asia Pacific region’s nearly 4 billion people in 36 countries. Strategic priorities for PACOM include building stronger relationships with allies. Two specifically identified goals are to create stronger military-to-military connections with China and to further develop our strategic partnership with the region’s next strongest and fastest growing power, India. At the same time, PACOM must consider not only transnational threats but the bugaboo that is North Korea. In short, it is an area of the world much deserving of our attention, for the challenges there are legion.
That brings us full circle back to Southwest Asia and the Middle East, where China’s economic interests and India’s sensitivities about its ties to the U.S. make it even more important that PACOM’s overtures are well received. This is precisely the kind of strategic issue and international overview students and practitioners of National Security must become familiar with in an effort to hone their analytical and de
cision-making skills. The importance of educating national security professionals in those kinds of international relationships cannot be underestimated if we are to produce the next generation of strategic thinkers who will be able to capitalize on the efforts of Admiral Locklear and the men and women serving our nation throughout PACOM today.
About the Author
Dr. Hagerty is an Air Force Reserve colonel and special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). He is presently assigned to AFOSI Field Investigations Region 6, Hickam AFB, HI, which provides criminal, counterintelligence, and specialized investigative support throughout the PACAF/PACOM area. His book, The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 1948-2000,was published by AFOSI in 2008. Dr. Hagerty also serves as the book review editor for the Journal of Strategic Security.
Dr. Hagerty holds a Ph.D. from Temple University, where he worked closely with the eminent military historian Russell F. Weigley. Dr. Hagerty’s primary interest in the field of military history is the American Civil War, with a secondary interest in Irish History.
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