[September 29, 2017] The impact of leadership failure is directly proportional to the authority and power a leader possesses. Senior leader failure can mean the tragic death of many people while the failure of a new manager could mean the loss of a few dollars. Syria, North Korea, Iran, and much of sub-Saharan Africa are at a point where any senior leader mistake could lead to great tragedy.
It’s no secret that the U.S. military and its allies study adversarial countries and their political will, military capabilities, technological advances, and industrial capacity. One wargame involved how a major disease outbreak in a Southeast Asian city would be alleviated by U.S. support if given the mission to assist. Specifically, it involved researching how to alleviate a massive Cholera outbreak in one city in that region to determine the world’s response.
Here’s what we learned. First, at the time information is gained that the disease outbreak is out of control, immediately begin to gather, stock, and begin loading massive quantities of aide (medical supplies, water purification systems, etc.) and the ask for the help of trained medical and engineer assets around the world. Supplies should be quickly loaded to prepare for shipment.
We learned a humanitarian crisis is not easy to fix but it is critical that an early massive logistical effort begin. It is all too easy to get behind the power curve and fall short of needed supplies. In Puerto Rico, the unfolding crisis caused by Hurricane Maria is a good example. It was easy to predict that the situation was far beyond the capacity of the Puerto Rican government. Few people were killed in the hurricane but many may die if massive aide does not arrive in time.
Second, innovative and creative thinking will be needed to help solve the many unexpected and unpredictable problems that will assuredly crop up. Folks on the ground that are doing the work also need broad authority and resources to get things done.
People in Puerto Rico are running out of sanitary water and are at risk of a major disease outbreak just like in our wargame. Preventing the spread of disease and compounding of existing medical conditions is paramount. Complicating this issue, is that many young adults left Puerto Rico due to the economic crisis there and thus will be unable to assist in the clean up, rescue, policing, and rebuilding.
Lives of thousands were theoretically in the balance during our wargaming. The prestige of the United States and our Allies was on the line. And, the world of nations would be making a judgment on the leadership of us all. Failure in the wargame would cost nothing. Failure in Puerto Rico would be tragic.
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