While doing research for a paper, I came across Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction by the US Institute of Peace and the US Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (http://www.usip.org/files/resources/...iples_full.pdf). What caught my attention was that Ambassoador Herbst, head of DOS's Office for the Coordinator for Stability and Reconstruction (S/CRS), stated on DipNote in November, 2009 that Guiding Principles was the new doctrine for S/CRS. A civilian doctrine for stability operations?
The document is surprising comprehensive, fairly detailed, and well-nested with FM 3-07's "stability tasks" and S/CRS's "stability sectors." While we hear a lot about the shortcomings of the "whole of government" approach and the failings of interagency "unity of effort," I think this document is a step in the right direction. I'd encourage anyone interested in the civilian side of stability operations to take a look at Guiding Principles.

MAJ Buckeye
Student, SAMS, US Army
Fort Leavenworth, KS