U.S. Interagency Irregular Warfare Efforts Face Structural Challenges, Not Just Language Barriers
A recent discussion in the Small Wars Journal, following articles by Brigadier General Russell Howard and Chad Machiela, questions the effectiveness of a 'whole-of-government' approach to irregular warfare within the American constitutional system. The core argument is that while shared language and understanding are important, the fundamental structure of the U.S. government, with its separation of powers, statutory agency mandates, and routine political leadership changes, inherently prevents the sustained, centralized coordination required for such an approach. Past attempts, like President Clinton's Presidential Decision Directive 56 (PDD-56) and similar directives from subsequent administrations including Bush, Obama, and President Trump, have shown temporary success but ultimately failed to create lasting structural changes, often expiring with changes in political leadership. The author suggests that the American system is not designed to produce a single, coordinated entity for long-term irregular ...
