Taking Charge A Bipartisan Report to the President-Elect on Foreign Policy and National Security Transition

by Carlucci, Frank; Hunter, Robert; Khalilzad, Zalmay

• ISBN13: 9780833029560
• ISBN10: 0833029568
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-12
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

A report prepared by Transition 2001, a bipartisan panel of about 60 American leaders in the areas of foreign and defense policy, outlining the most important national security challenges for the new administration, suggesting priorities, and recommending specific courses of action that the new president could take in the early days of his administration. Such decisive early action will be critical for setting U.S. foreign and national security policy on the right path for the balance of his term and beyond. This summary is based on more than 25 discussion papers on key issues and areas, prepared by RAND staff and others, analyzing the most critical foreign and national security issues facing the United States, both during the first part of the new administration and in the long term. The discussion papers are published in a companion report,

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
The Transition 2001 Panel	iv
Transmittal Letter to the President-Elect	vii
Introduction: Setting Directions for the Global Era	1	(6)
First Steps: The Transition and After Inauguration	7	(28)
People and Process	7	(7)
Staffing the Administration in Foreign Policy and National Security	9	(3)
Forging Effective Relations with Congress	12	(2)
Issues for Immediate Decision	14	(11)
First Public Presentations	14	(2)
Critical Decisions	16	(9)
Possible Crises and Opportunities	25	(10)
Iraq	25	(2)
China and Taiwan	27	(3)
The Korean Opportunity	30	(1)
Colombia	31	(4)
Setting the Stage: Longer-Term Issues	35	(36)
Defense Issues: Sustaining a Preeminent Military	35	(7)
Defense Acquisition	39	(2)
Defense Infrastructure	41	(1)
America's Key Alliances	42	(7)
A Broader U.S.-European Strategic Partnership	42	(4)
Recasting U.S. Alliances in Asia	46	(3)
Powers in Flux	49	(12)
Major Powers	49	(5)
Regional Powers	54	(7)
The New Global Agenda	61	(10)
Fostering Global Economic Order and Prosperity	62	(3)
Nontraditional Threats and Opportunities	65	(1)
Asymmetric Warfare	66	(2)
Developing International Institutions	68	(3)
Appendix: Comments and Dissent by Transition 2001 Panel Members	71