The Undersecretary of Defense for Policy takes on StratComm

USD Policy has been undergoing significant reorganization lately, and it's shape and function is not exactly clear to those of us on the 'outside'. The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy is perhaps "The Source" of power within the Pentagon, and the new Undersecretary, Michele Flournoy, is trying to shape her office to be more responsive to the global context, it seems. Those of us around D.C. not within USD(P) are waiting to understand the new organization and it's new direction. The Defense News reported last week (URL:http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4190904&c=AME&s=TOP ) that Flournoy was going to put together a small team to shape communications both to Congress and to other US Govt agencies. The team will replace an office within USD(P) that used to be called "Support to Public Diplomacy". Flournoy disbanded the Support to Public Diplomacy office this year, seeking a fresh start to Strategic Communications efforts after the Support to Public Diplomacy office became embroiled in an internal conflict over it's issuances. (Apparently it was issuing 'propagandistic' information that soldiers in Afghanistan refused to use about casualty rates). While this all sounds rather archaic, it's not. The goal of the team is to coordinate Strategic Communications across DoD. I would suggest they start by reading the CENTCOM reports to Congress on progress in Afghanistan and Iraq. As I've blogged before the reports are pathetic at best, and do not show off the significant efforts in either theater of war.

As the U.S. tries to shape its global presence to positively effect and stabilize the international commons, it must be cognizant of its communications. It's all part of the "Smart Power" construct.