Additional Information

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Because of numerous inquiries about the 2009 annual update to the “The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and the Interagency System” report, this website has been established to provide timely information about the status of the report. Information posted on this site is provided by Alan Whittaker for informational purposes only and does not reflect official policy of, nor endorsement by, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the National Defense University, or the U.S. government.

STATUS OF THE 2009 ANNUAL UPDATE: “The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and the Interagency System”
Interviews with Obama administration officials have begun. Target for completing the update is the end of September. Depending upon how long the coordination process takes, the report could be distributed sometime in October. (As of 7 August 2009)

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO NATIONAL SECURITY (as of 18 March 2009)

February 13, 2009
PRESIDENTIAL POLICY DIRECTIVE - 1
SUBJECT: Organization of the National Security Council System
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/ppd/ppd-1.pdf

February 23, 2009
PRESIDENTIAL STUDY DIRECTIVE – 1
SUBJECT: Organizing for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/psd/psd-1.pdf

March 18, 2009
SUBJECT: Memo from the National Security Advisor to NSC Principals Committee members (and designated invitees) on "The 21st Century Interagency Process." The 5-page memo articulates Gen Jones' guidance for the principles of the operation of the NSC and for the underlying interagency system that supports it. The memo covers five areas of NSC/interagency operational principles:

1. Strategic process
2. Agile NSC
3. Transparent process
4. Predictable process
5. Monitoring of strategic implementation

In summary, the memo emphasizes that NSC entities should be focused on POTUS level issues, ensuring full deliberation that addresses "differing views" and visible transparency of operations for all departments and agencies, management of multiple issues, directs the creation of a Director for National Security Affairs in each department/agency to coordinate NSC, PC, and DC, schedules and activities, and assigns responsibility to the Deputies Committee for policy implementation monitoring and reporting. The memo also directs representatives to be delegated authority to speak for their agencies, and for Deputies to have authority to speak for their Principals (with a 24-hour deadline for any required Principal's concurrence).
Memo: 21st Century Interagency Process (3-18-09)

OTHER INFO RELEVANT TO THE OBAMA NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM:
(not intended to be all inclusive) — (as of 4 March 2009)
White House NSC webpage:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/

PROJECT ON NATIONAL SECURITY REFORM
The reports of the Project on National Security Reform are especially relevant for the evolving structure of the Obama administration’s national security structure.

http://www.pnsr.org/

The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization working to modernize and improve the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. It is funded and supported by Congress, foundations and corporations, and has been carrying out one of the most comprehensive studies of the U.S. national security system in American history. The following individuals who have been appointed to senior positions in the Obama administration served on the PNSR’s Guiding Coalition leadership group or led PNSR working groups.

Gen James Jones (current National Security Advisor)
ADM Dennis Blair (DNI)
James B. Steinberg (Deputy Secretary of State)
Michele Flournoy (Undersecretary of Defense for Policy)
Ashton Carter (Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Kathleen Hicks (Deputy Under Secretary of Defense in charge of planning, strategy and force development.)

RELEVANT MEDIA ARTICLES:
(not intended to be all inclusive)—(as of 31 March 2009)

Obama's NSC Will Get New Power -- Directive Expands Makeup and Role Of Security Body
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 8, 2009; A01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/07/AR2009020702076.html

Remarks by National Security Adviser Jones at 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy
By James L. Jones
Council on Foreign Relations website
February 8, 2009
Remarks : James L Jones 45th Munich Conference

National Security Structure Is Set Under Obama, Council Will Grow
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 27, 2009; A03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022604199.html

NSC Gets a Face Lift : Gen. Jones will have more authority
by Josh Gerstein
Politico
February 27, 2009
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0209/nsc_gets_a_facelift_98b3c772-e841-42e3-ac2b-a0aa539b7f42.html

A National Security Council everyone can love, or at least be a member of
by David J Rothkopf
Foreign Policy
2/27/2009
A National Security Council Everyone Can Love...

Inside Obama's War Room
By Leslie H Gelb
President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
March 11, 2009
http://www.cfr.org/publication/18745/inside_obamas_war_room.html