From Mission Creep to Smart Power: Creating Balance within Defense and State

The book explores the growing imbalance between the Defense and State Departments, highlighting the Defense Department's increasing role in diplomatic functions traditionally handled by the State Department. It discusses the implications of military personnel conducting diplomatic missions, emphasizing the need for a more robust State Department to take over when military operations transition to development and diplomacy. The analysis includes potential resource reallocations and the viability of proposed changes, considering both internal and external influences on these departments.