Military Governance versus Stability Operations

[TheCurmudgeon]

Moderator's Note

The author has requested a title change; the thread started as "Area Support Group", and now becomes "Military Governance versus Stability Operations" (ends).


All,

I am looking into the old concept of a rear area and specifically how we used to be designed to administer territory and the population of that territory once we took it over. In the post WWII days the US Army used military governors. The next time we did anything close to that would be Kosovo, but I am not sure it worked the same.

In any case, I am looking for a reference, preferably open source, that can provide a little background on how we used to think about how to administer occupied territory before we decided that there was no rear area. If anyone has any insights on why we dumped the ASG (who, if I recall correcely, was in charge of the rear area) I would appreciate it.

Also, for the Marines in the audience, did you handle things differently when you occupied small countires?

How about the UK or Australia - do you even consider post war administration in your doctrine.

Thanks