Essay on DIMEFIL Program To Counter Iran WDM Program

World security is fundamental and promotes a suitable environment for all people to live in the whole world. Therefore, this has enabled many countries to focus on appropriate means to ensure that security is maintained worldwide. The United States has been at the forefront of the fight against all possible threats to national security. One of the main issues that raised concern is Iran’s attempt to launch a program for the weapon of mass destruction.[1]. This issue brought a lot of tension and pressure on the security of the world.

The United States of America has been concerned a lot with the Iranian attempts to produce weapons of mass destruction and biological and chemical weapons. The same issue has brought conflict between the United States of America and Iran over the allegation of attempting to make a nuclear weapon, which poses a lot of threat to the United States’ security. Iran seems to fight a lot to offset the military technology used by the United States of America. I believed the Iranian WDM program was fueled by the allied cold war between the two countries.

Many countries’ main challenge is on the best tool or instrument of national power to apply and counter the enemies. The United States has many national power devices that may include PMESII and DIMEFIL frameworks. For this case, the main focus will be on applying for the DIMEFIL program by the United States of America in its fight to counter Iran and ensure security. Additionally, the United States of America uses the DIMEFIL framework to achieve its national security objectives. The DIMEFIL, as a tool of power, encompasses a spectrum of specified capabilities presented by its elements. DIMEFIL is a military program and an instrument of energy used by military officials in the United States of America. This program is manifested in the department of the executive branch and also executive agencies. The DIMEFIL is usually an acronym representing Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic, Finance, Intelligence, and Law Enforcement. The DIMEFIL framework is applied for the success of the US military missions. Its elements are adequately assessed and analyzed for this success as it gives all possible means of outlining the basic enemy system. The DIMEFIL program is divided into seven evaluations.

Diplomatic Evaluation

Diplomacy is a tactic used as an instrument of foreign policy and is used by military officials and military intelligence.[2]. It usually sets the goals and strategies to be used in enemy territory. The diplomatic evaluation is mainly used as a substitute for war tools to counter the enemy in their regions. This is a peaceful adjustment used to solve differences between the conflicting nations. This is the first method that the United States usually applies before opting to other means that may call for the force that may come with negative implications. In Iran, the United States has been sending its diplomats, including the security minister, to Iran to solve their issues. Most importantly, for Iran to stop its attempts to launch its program for the weapon of mass destruction is a threat to the world’s security. The primary tool used to enable diplomacy is a negotiation and international dialogue.

This strategy is sometimes accompanied by a threat to us punitive measures or use the force. The United States has threatened to put sanctions on Iran if it fails to adhere to the agreements they reach in times of negations. Iran has been unable severally to honor some treaties and agreements that they have been entering into with the United States of America on ending their attempts to launch its program of weapons mass destruction (WMD). This has led to several sanctions to Iran by the United States of America and the United Nations. It has been secretly going against their agreements and treaties, which the US Intelligence Agencies discover.[3]. The use of diplomacy is a very peaceful means. The United States of America, being a democratic nation that respects humans’ rights, prefers using diplomatic means as the first measure to counter their enemies. Diplomacy is used to build international order, conducive to a nonviolent resolution to all the disputes between the United States and its opponents. In this case, their conflict with Iran on their attempt to make nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction is a threat to the whole world’s security.

Finance evaluation/ Growing Financial Power

The nature of military, financial power is a distinct instrument in the DIMEFIL framework. The financial aspect is presented into two parts: the use of capital as a necessary power instrument. The financial power mainly focuses on the essential strength of the United States Dollar and its capability to utilize the accessibility of the capital as the fundamental instrument of the national authority. The second aspect is the use of the primary financial mechanism to project the influence. The use of the financial power for this case involves limiting the access to capital by Iran due to its attempts to produce WMD, a threat to worldwide security. To achieve its objectives, the United States, under financial power, utilizes financial systems and architecture to reach the security objectives.

The United States treasury is the federal department responsible for coordinating the financial power to achieve the security policy objective. Additionally, the United States dollar is an essential part of economic power.[4]. For this case, the United States uses the financial power by requesting the Iran government to either stop their attempt to launch of WMD program or otherwise stop trading with the US Dollar. The considerable strength and value of the US dollar and its ability to manipulate access is the primary foundation of its financial power. Therefore, US financial power growth enables it to influence international financial sectors and banking activities. The US can put its premium to find Iran’s financial traits and understand its network, therefore disrupting its program for launching the WDM, which is a threat to the other countries. Following Iran’s financial footprints and other enemies gives the US financial power in fighting and countering their enemies.

Intelligence Evaluation

The United States has grown its intelligence power, an element of the DIMEFIL framework, as a national power source fighting for their enemies. The US has focused on increasing intelligence’s power due to the complex dynamic of its threats, operating environment, and allies has grown and developed to the extent that the projecting intelligence itself has become another distinct instrument for the United States national power. The DIMEFIL framework’s intelligence element projects the ability that is abroad to collect the necessary information that the other US States and non-state actors seek actively to secure. The intelligence usually focuses on the enemy’s capabilities and, for this case, is on Iran. Without a functional recognition and understanding of the nature of the threat and the environment of operation, US national security policy would be very useless.

Reliable intelligence has enabled the United States to obtain valuable and secret information on Iran’s attempts to produce nuclear weapons and prepare and take the necessary action course.[5]. It is believed that reliable and quality intelligence has made the sound policy achieve its goals and main security objective. At the same time, the failures of intelligence can contribute to the misguided based policy. The United States projects access to its fundamental intelligence as core and critical capability. Complexities of the very global environment have made the US stress its intelligence capability. Therefore, this places a more significant and primary emphasis on the quality of the intelligence-sharing, enabling and accumulating information, their access held in Iran by its intelligence agencies in their territory. Intelligence agencies of the United States in Iran’s territories enable the military officials and security agencies to trace all Iran’s secret activities, especially on the WDM program’s progress.

Information Assessment

Information is very vital and needed in the fight against terrorism. All possible fights toward fostering national security, without information, the military battle against the terror and countering the enemies would be challenging. Information is vital and needs to be based on the actors’ threats, possible intentions, possible actions, and potential capabilities, including the enemy’s economic, social, and military powers.[6]. There is a closer relationship between intelligence and information as they go hand on and complement each other. The information element attempts to reveal all the necessary actions of the enemies. For this case, the United States intelligence service needs to have all the essential information about Iran’s attempts and procedures on making nuclear weapons.

Information tends to give the United States capability to access Iran’s progress in all private undertaking through their intelligence service. Some information is secret, and therefore the access to such information tends to be a challenge. The United States has effective mechanisms for collecting all relevant and suitable information on security issues through its intelligence agencies. The United States has the most powerful intelligence system globally, making it access all possible information necessary on security matters. The United States intelligence agencies in Iran enable it to access all information it needs on the WDM programs.

Law Enforcement Assessment

Law enforcement is another crucial element of the DIMEFIL framework used by the United States to fight insecurity. Different departments have been set in an attempt to project the law enforcement power. Such departments include the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of justice. Both departments have given priority to counter-terrorism and taking control of the United States Security. This attempt to ensure counteractions portrays a shift from domestic activities of the very rule of law. It focuses on projecting law enforcement externally abroad, which attempts to meet the United States national security objectives. For instance, the federal bureau of investigations under the department of justice has sixty-three legal attaché offices and has other smaller offices in the rest of the world.[7]. It covers more the one hundred and eighty countries, and Iran is one of them. The program of the attaché is different from the diplomatic activities because it tends to gain its authority in the known department of justice.

The US Department of homeland security, commonly referred to as the DHS, has the responsibility to project its power abroad, ensuring national security. Therefore, the DHS has adopted and formulated policies and a comprehensive range of law enforcement-related sub-disciplines that help it achieve the main security objective of ensuring security.[8].

The DHS has the largest investigative agency that operates abroad in other countries, and a good example is Iran. This department is referred to as the International Operations Divisions of Homeland Security Investigations. This department liaises with the US government and other law agencies responsible for law enforcement across the whole world.[9]. These departments ensure that the proper investigation is done in Iran on its possible actions that might threaten the United States’ security and the whole world. The HIS investigations in Iran help the United States get the necessary information on Iran’s WDM operations.

Military Evaluation

This element of the DIMEFIL framework is vital and involves the application of force by a party to force the other to act. The military of the United States is considered the most essential and crucial element of this framework. The military is used all the security operations of the United States and especially the external threats to the security. The military instrument of power involves the use of force, threats to apply pressure towards the enemy. The application of force can is the United States can is applied in different ways and domains. It can be carried out inland by the US army, in water by the US Navy, and the air force’s space.

The United Military is among the best militaries globally, and it has deployed its military in the whole world. The United States has been sending its army to all countries facing terrorism and other extreme insecurities threatening the entire world’s security. In Iran, the United States sends its military to keep order and watch on Iran’s activities. In collaboration with intelligence agencies, the US military works together in Iran to monitor Iran’s progress on its attempt to launch Weapons of Mass Destructions.[10]. Therefore, if Iran attempts any attack on the United States, the military within its territory may discover the same and take the necessary action.

Economic Assessment

The economic instrument is another source of power under the DIMEFIL framework vital for United States security operations. This instrument mainly focuses on constraining or furthering the prosperity of others. The economic element is considered as among the essential component and heart of US national security. The economic instrument considers a given state’s capability to possess power that will enable it to pursue an individual strategy. It also attempts to determine whether the countries’ efforts to attain their strategic end consume much of their economic power.

The economic element tends to include trading goods and services typical to increase trading partners’ prosperity and wealth. Therefore, the limitations and restrictions on trade may consist of tariffs and sanctions towards the enemy to her economy. The United States has put trade sanctions towards Iran for not complying with the UN’s security regulations on the production of nuclear weapons or, in other words, WMD programs. Iran has also gone against the treaties and agreements it made through diplomatic means, with the United States requiring it not to attempt again in launching the program of weapons of mass destruction.[11].

Another economic instrument application involves the ceasing to provide aid, food, money, and material, among other things aiming to harm the enemy too economically to have him surrender. The United States, in an attempt to force Iran to comply with the nuclear weapons regulations, and adhere to their agreements on ending its WDM programs, ceased its support in terms of the food, money, and provision of emergency services, among others. This will lead to some hardships, and at the end of it all, it may see Iran adhere to all the US and United States requirements.

Policy Option and Comparison between the DIMEFIL and PMESII

The two instruments of power, both DIMEFIL and PMESII framework, compare to each in different ways way they have some similarities and differences in their applications. There are some differences between the two options, where the DIMEFIL contains some elements not found in the PMESII. They include diplomacy, intelligence, financial and law enforcement that are very critical. Using the DIMEFIL over the enemy using the PMESII, the United States of America will enjoy several advantages. Using DSIMEFIL, the US will enjoy intelligence power, which is critical for collecting secret information about the enemy’s actions.

The United States of America has the strongest intelligence system globally, giving it a competitive advantage over its enemies. A good example is when the same intelligence agency gathered important information about Osama’s actions and went ahead to kill him, who was a threat to the whole world’s security for quite a long time.[12]. Another advantage of using DIMEFIL is its financial power. It can use its Dollar power to affect the3 action of the enemy by restricting the enemy to use their Dollar, which is among the most used tools for international trade. This will tend to suppress the activities of their enemy and therefore force them to cooperate. Another difference that is also an advantage to using the DMEFIL is using Law Enforcement’s powerful element. The law enforcement power of the United States enabled by the department of homeland security, and the social justice department gives the United States an advantage over its opponents.

The department of homeland security has established some offices in other countries that make the United States monitor and develop their enemies’ actions with ease. Additionally, the application of the DIMEFIL provides a country with diplomatic power. This is the best option that involves peaceful negotiations with the enemy and avoids war or military means at all costs. The United States among nations that has the most vital diplomatic power as it has applied it in very many countries to attain a state of calmness[13].

Furthermore, PMESII has some elements that differentiate it from the DIMEFIL, including political, infrastructure, and social power. Social power is also essential as the country needs to understand people’s social life within their enemies’ territories. This will make the operations easy to know how to interact with those within the territories and obtain helpful information. Additionally, infrastructural power is another crucial instrument of power that will cover all the means of movements with the territory of operations, including the roads and others’ conditions. This is an essential tool as it will ease the operation when considered. Political power is also a critical power when the operation area’s political system needs to be considered. There are similarities between the two frameworks where they share some elements, including; military power, economic power, and information power that can be applied in the same way and possible advantages leveraged. Therefore a country can opt to use the DIMEFIL framework due to some policy options available where a given country can enjoy intelligent power, law enforcement, and financial power, which are very critical.

Furthermore, the United States of American had another option to use DIME that was initially used. The DIME as a national instrument of power can aid in achieving the national security of the United States. The DIME is not very far from the DIMEFIL as it represents the Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economy. The United States can use this tool very effectively and counter their enemies using the PMESII framework. A nation does not need to be very strong or superior in all the elements of the mechanisms of power to achieve all its national security interests and goals.

A good example is during the United States of America campaigns for the revolution between 1778 and 1781. The majority of the rebels out-resourced and outmatched in all conceivable ways compared to Britain’s global power. They were still capable of defeating Britain.

The United States used their available tools of power very well, adeptly, and hence defeated Great Britain, which utilized all the elements of power tools. Use of the DIME framework as an option and put all the efforts into each aspect; since it is a simple framework, it can lead to success over the enemies. The use of diplomacy can be very successful in the powerful and skilled diplomats are used. Similarly, the proper use and analysis of the available information about the enemy can serve as a competitive advantage to the United States over its enemies. Additionally, by putting more effort into the military tool in all the military forces, both the navy, army, and air force will be an added advantage to a nation. Consequently, concentrating on the economic power where you compress your enemy’s economy by denying any access to all forms of aids, money, food, and other resources would enable the US military to defeat their enemies.

Policy recommendations

The current environment, primarily based on the security issue, has become very complex, and this, therefore, has made the security operations challenging. The technology has grown, which has shifted view and criminal operations as the technology have been leveraged to conduct terror activities. Therefore, I recommend using the DIMEFIL and the DIME policies as they are crucial and strong tools that can be used to counter the enemies. The DIMEFIL policy is one of the best policies that I can recommend any country to use. Proper analysis of this program’s elements will enable the country to be powerful and achieve its security goals. I recommend that all the government require to defeat their enemies to focus on these elements. They consider diplomacy as a source of power and choose the best diplomats able to settle disputes.

Additionally, focusing on these two policies and exhausting these combined elements of diplomacy, information, military and economic power. I recommend strengthening these elements where both are given more and necessary weight as they all very critical and critical analysis. Strengthening diplomacy elements as a peaceful tool directions hinders the military power’s progression that is not a peaceful means to solve the problem. It is used mainly as the final option when diplomacy fails.

PMESII ASSESSMENT REVIEW

The PMESII framework is not the best as it leaves out some essential elements such as Intelligence, Law enforcement, finance. The success of the information element heavily depends on the intelligence capability left out in this framework. A strong Intelligence team is essential as it helps all the necessary and critical information that is private and not easily accessed. A good example is the intelligence agency of the United States. Law enforcement is also an essential element left that will involve all the law enforcement agencies. Financial details need to be considered as the use of the dollars and other powerful currencies can be used to influence the power where you deny the enemy to use your currency that is commonly an international tool for business. This will suppress the enemy economically and hence follow your requirements.

In conclusion, world security is very crucial for every country to run its activities and grows. The fact that the same protection is essential does not mean that countries should relax and see it happen.[14]. There has been the threat of terror for some time, making the United States and other countries look for the appropriate power instruments to counter their enemies. The United States of America has been using some tools and instruments of power and the common ones being the DIMEFIL and PMESII framework. The use of the DIMEFIL framework in countering the enemies has been beneficial. The US has leveraged diplomatic power, information power, intelligence power, economic power, financial power, military power, and law enforcement power to fight for the enemies, including Iran.

Bibliography

Armstrong, Andrew H. “CHALLENGES TO COORDINATING THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.” Ph.D. diss., Johns Hopkins University, 2019.

Khattak, Sadia, Muhammad Zubair Khan, and Shaista Naznin. “A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EU’S WMD STRATEGY: A CASE STUDY OF IRAN.” Journal of European Studies 32, no. 2 (2016).

Jones Jr, James L. All Elements of National Power: Moving Toward a New Interagency Balance for US Global Engagement. Atlantic Council., 2014.

Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[1] Khattak, Sadia, Muhammad Zubair Khan, and Shaista Naznin. “A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EU’S WMD STRATEGY: A CASE STUDY OF IRAN.” Journal of European Studies 32, no. 2 (2016).

[2] Armstrong, Andrew H. “CHALLENGES TO COORDINATING THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.” Ph.D. diss., Johns Hopkins University, 2019.

[3] Armstrong, Andrew H. “CHALLENGES TO COORDINATING THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.” Ph.D. diss., Johns Hopkins University, 2019.

[4] Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[5] Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[6] Jones Jr, James L. All Elements of National Power: Moving Toward a New Interagency Balance for US Global Engagement. Atlantic Council., 2014.

[7] Armstrong, Andrew H. “CHALLENGES TO COORDINATING THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.” Ph.D. diss., Johns Hopkins University, 2019.

[8] Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[9] Jones Jr, James L. All Elements of National Power: Moving Toward a New Interagency Balance for US Global Engagement. Atlantic Council., 2014.

[10] Jones Jr, James L. All Elements of National Power: Moving Toward a New Interagency Balance for US Global Engagement. Atlantic Council., 2014.

[11] Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[12] Rodriguez, Cesar A., Timothy C. Walton, and Hyong Chu. Putting the” FIL” into” DIME”: Growing Joint Understanding of the Instruments of Power. Air Force Section Honduras, US Military Group, US Embassy Tegucigalpa, 2020.

[13] Khattak, Sadia, Muhammad Zubair Khan, and Shaista Naznin. “A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EU’S WMD STRATEGY: A CASE STUDY OF IRAN.” Journal of European Studies 32, no. 2 (2016).

[14] Jones Jr, James L. All Elements of National Power: Moving Toward a New Interagency Balance for US Global Engagement. Atlantic Council, 2014.