Joint Operating Concept (JOC) - GlobalSecurity.org

2. Regional Situation/US National Objectives. The United States has longterm
national security and economic interests in the region. A combination of
developing but weak governments and rogue governments or organizations
has created an environment that presents opportunities for terrorist and
criminal organizations to operate with near impunity. Tribal and ethnic
boundaries overlap, and cross national borders complicate efforts to secure
borders and regulate traffic. A severe drought is displacing hundreds of
thousands, and more than 8 million people will be directly affected. As they
surge into the urban areas to escape the drought’s effects, they are drawing
on already insufficient resources and infrastructure. The overall result is
widespread instability in a region that contains untapped natural resources
with strategic importance and that lies astride vital sea-lanes. A by-product
of this instability is an expansion of a strain of religious fundamentalism
possessing a particularly strong anti-American/anti-Western ideology.
The USG has identified three countries as critical for establishing regional
stability. A brief description of each country is provided below.
• Country A (friendly state, permissive environment). Country A has a
fragile, developing government with a weak economy located in an area of
strategic importance due to its proximity to vital sea lanes. Latent
transnational terrorist elements create significant regional security
challenges. Country A faces inter-tribal conflicts, large sections of
ungoverned spaces, and an active insurgency.
• Country B (non-belligerent state, uncertain environment). Country B
is a collapsed state. Its territory is essentially ungoverned with
fundamentalist militia warlords and tribal chiefs maintaining local control.
There are active transnational terrorists operating in the country.
• Country C (belligerent state, hostile environment). Country C is a
state sponsor of terrorism that promotes fundamentalist ideology and
conducts a campaign of genocide in portions of the country. It is faced
with an insurgency.
US National Objectives. Based on US national interests, the President directs
the attainment of the following overarching objectives within the region:
• Defeat terrorist networks.
• Prevent the attainment, use, and/or distribution of weapons of mass
effects.
• Assist regional governments in establishing plans for long-term economic
stability.
• Assist the legitimate government of Country A to establish internal
stability and a path to long-term economic prosperity.
• Defeat terrorists in ungoverned areas in Country B and assist in the
establishment of a duly elected, legitimate government.
Appendix E
E-2