The Commander's Emergency Response Program Employing Economic Power Against Fourth Generation Foes in Iraq

Combating fourth generation threats requires the integrated employment of all instruments of US national power. In particular, military forces should employ economic power during security and stability operations targeting the economic condition of the local population in the theater of operation. One element of economic power, the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP), first used in Iraq during OIF promoted social, political and economic order and undermined the appeal of US opponents. Economic condition is a critical vulnerability that can be targeted by the United States to attack local popular support for sub-national actors, a key center of gravity (CoG) for these opponents. Improving local economies helps restore order to conflicted societies creating conditions to transition from military to civil control operations. Effective employment of economic power by the US military entails providing battlefield commanders with ready funding, authority, resources, and doctrine to develop, execute, and manage economic stabilization programs targeting the conditions underlying failed states that empower sub-national threats to US interests.