Library of Documents Relevant to the Rule of Law and Stability

Government & Military Sources

• Department of Defense Directive No. 3000.05 (Nov. 28, 2005) - Department of Defense document defining "Stability Operations" or stability, security, transition and reconstruction ("SSTR") as at the core of U.S. military mission.  "Rule of law" is also included as part of the mission. 
• National Security Presidential Directive 44 (NSPD 44) (Dec. 7, 2005) - Orders stabilization assistance as a coordinated effort among U.S. agencies and military.  State department is the focal point, but all agencies are bound by the order, and State and Defense Departments are to integrate their planning. Directive includes "rule of law" among objectives: "The United States should work with other countries and organizations to anticipate state failure, avoid it whenever possible, and respond quickly and effectively when necessary and appropriate to promote peace, security, development, democratic practices, market economies, and the rule of law."
• Military Support to Stabilization, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction Operations Joint Operating Concept (Nov. 2006) - Prepared by U.S. Joint Forces Command, document defines "establish representative, effective governance and the rule of law" as one of six major mission elements.
• Rule of Law Handbook: A Practitioner's Guide for Judge Advocates (July 2007) - Provides guidance to judge advocates involved in rule of law operations.
• Achievements in Building and Maintaining the Rule of Law (Nov. 2002) - From the U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Democracy and Governance.  Detailed review of Rule of Law programs of U.S. AID around the world.
• Capstone Concept for Joint Operations Version 3.0 (Jan. 2009) - DOD document that describes in broad terms vision for how the joint forces will operate in response to a wide variety of security challenges. It proposes that future joint force commanders will combine and subsequently adapt some combination of four basic categories of military activity -- combat, security, engagement, and relief and reconstruction (including the reestablishment of civil government).
• Rule of Law Activities:  Lessons Learned (July 2009) - Professor Thomas Dempsey of the U.S. Army Peace Keeping and Stability Operations Institute describes lessons learned Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Inspection of Rule-of-Law Programs in Iraq, Embassy Baghdad (Oct. 2005).  Department of State, Office of Inspector Report.
• Inspection of Rule-of-Law Programs in Afghanistan (Jan. 2008).  Department of State, Office of Inspector Report.