Combating Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

(3) Maintain the regional responsibility focus of the ASD for International Security Affairs.(It may be advisable to include the Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasian region with theCooperative Threat Reduction Program under the ASD for Proliferation Threats.)Planning Proliferation-related Military OperationsRecommendation 5.6: The President should direct the Secretary of Defense toestablish a Joint Proliferation Operations Plans Group, under the AssistantSecretary of Defense for Combating Proliferation/Policy, to conduct planning insupport for operations to combat proliferation.Preparing plans for military operations is the job of the Director for Operations (J-3) in theOrganization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Planning operations to combat proliferation iscomplex, specialized, and sensitive. The Commission believes that the Joint Staff shouldestablish a small cadre of specialists—a Joint Proliferation Operations Plans Group—toconduct planning for operations to:• Deny acquisition of weapons-useable nuclear, biological and chemical materials,equipment, and technology by countries and sub-national groups of concern;• Disrupt delivery of weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems; and• Identify and inhibit sub-national terrorist groups and nations that are seeking toacquire or enhance weapons of mass destruction capability.This Joint Proliferation Operations Plans Group would necessarily work closely with theNational Director for Combating Proliferation, receiving requirements and guidance fromthe National Director as well as keeping him or her fully informed of planning activities. Thisgroup would also work closely with the headquarters of U.S. warfighting commanders, theCentral Intelligence Agency, and, where appropriate, the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The Commission believes that coordination could best be accomplished by detailingintelligence and law enforcement specialists to work with the Group. This organizationcould, over time, become an important force in crystallizing consideration of aggressiveaction that advances our efforts against proliferation. Eventually, these plans could involvecovert or military action that would require review by Principals, approval by the President,and notification of relevant congressional committees. Others would involve public59