Michael P Mahaney

Striking a Balance: Force Protection and Military Presence, Beirut, October, 1983 Michael P Mahaney

Publisher Marketing: The 1983 Beirut bombing marks a turning point for military commanders who must now continually assess force protection measures while involved in Stability and Support Operations (SASO). Since 1983, the United States military has participated in numerous SASO missions similar to the operation in Beirut, Lebanon. These operations have ranged from humanitarian assistance to peace enforcement operations, and have often included combat operations. The Beirut bombing continues to significantly affect the force protection measures that military commanders employ while on SASO missions. A military commander's force protection posture directly impacts local cultural integration, unit morale, and his ability to effectively accomplish the assigned mission. In Beirut the mission dictated the force protection posture, in Haiti the force protection posture influenced the mission. Over-emphasis of force protection by commanders continually generates dialog about the proper and reasonable application of force protection measures. Political leaders, military leaders and the American public cannot suffer the consequences of "another Beirut." By revisiting the 1982 deployment of Marines to Lebanon and assessing the internal and external factors facing the military commanders on the ground in Beirut, military commanders today can gain valuable insights on force protection issues. This case study analyzes a situation where a progression of external and internal factors provided terrorists with an unprecedented target amidst an extremely chaotic environment. A thorough assessment of the internal and external factors confronting the MAU and BLT commanders will demonstrate that force protection measures are the responsibility of both military and civilian leaders. Diplomats and military leaders (at all levels) determine conditions for force protection success. A brief comparative assessment with operations in Haiti and Bosnia establishes significant relevant trends with Beirut. This mono