Soft Power Projection (Paperback)

The United States military has been predisposed to fight conventional warfare since the Civil War. Today the United States is confronted with numerous irregular wars characterized by counterinsurgency, stabilization, and reconstruction operations. In an attempt to prevent future irregular wars, the United States must adapt its whole of government approach to leveraging 'soft power' to mitigate or prevent future conflicts around the world. To do so, the nation must empower and support the State Department's leadership role in shaping the diplomatic, political, and military global environment. As a supporting capability, the Department of Defense's fleet of strategic airlifters represents a critical mission enabler that can rapidly project interagency shaping operations. By assessing, planning, coordinating, and practicing and executing interagency humanitarian relief efforts, the United States can leverage its national soft power to attract, not coerce, global audiences.