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Joint and combined operations require the capabilities of all deployed levels-of-power to be integrated and focused on delivering the required political end state. There is no practical limit to the number and type of organizations that can participate in, or affect such operations: in the 21st century, 'joint and combined,' is by no means synonymous with 'military.'
We live and operate in a joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational environment. There are often many frictions which can actually deliver against an organization's stated aims of being effective, as well as national or institutional interests to overcome. This is evident in the frequency of the debates about what 'joint' means, or whether 'combined' is really the way ahead.
Nevertheless, the JIIM environment has evolved into something tangible in the first 25 years of the 21st century. Nations and institutions have identified this environment as the character of the space within which we will operate. The world shows no signs of becoming a simpler and happier place; thus it seems reasonable to assume that joint and combined operations will continue to describe the military contributions to political activity in the JIIM environment.
In order to take decisive military action in pursuit of a stated political goal, a nation must seek legitimacy and political authority for its conduct. It will usually seek this from the international community, but recent history has reminded us that legitimacy also stems from a nation's own political institutions. Legitimacy can come from acting under existing legally binding treaty provisions, from a United Nations Security Council resolution, or when the UN is driven by irreconcilable national or bloc interests, through a sufficiently large coalition of the willing. The route differs, but the destination is the same: a multinational military force. Whatever the mix of nationalities, it is certain there will be a requirement for a joint effort among land, sea and air forces in order to maximize their effectiveness. There will remain areas, such as anti-piracy operations or enforcing a no-fly zone, which are less able to be turned into a joint operation; however, where decisive military action is required, it will almost invariably be conducted in the land environment and will require the closest integration of maritime and air capabilities into land operations.
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