Saudi Arabia sees itself as an indispensible world player because, among other things, such volumes of world trade, including energy transactions, are routed through it. Anyone with the requisite computer skills can cause massive havoc, and Riyadh wishes to create an indigenous cadre of advanced practitioners, as opposed to functionaries who merely achieve certification. The Kingdom’s needs may not be met by Westerners or other non-Arabs not fully apprised of regional concerns. Moreover, there are fears that those who currently oversee cybersecurity may lack the understanding to craft a cohesive defense. Military and nonmilitary means must be brought into alignment, and Saudi observers seek a grasp of the Western delineation as a guide for their own cybersecurity effort.

Human rights abuses by military personnel have been increasing in Mexico and throughout Latin America, exacerbated by public security fears that involve the military in law enforcement and essentially nullify conventional conduct. But public security and human rights are not mutually exclusive concerns. U.S. Southern Command’s human rights division offers lessons learned for the Defense Department to play a larger role in developing military human rights programs worldwide while adequately addressing security needs. The military is not a permanent solution to epidemic crime, so it must encourage the restoration of police power and be a champion of police reform. Gaining trust for the military and police will be challenging in a region with a long history of police and military misuse of power.

An American tradition of distrust of large standing militaries, along with today’s all-volunteer force, which cuts citizens off from the direct link with serving military members most had in the days of conscription, means the gap between the civilian and military worlds must be bridged. Simple steps such as integrating Servicemembers into surrounding communities through membership in community organizations, or inviting civilians on post for open houses and bringing ROTC back to high schools and campuses, would revive the Founders’ concept of the citizen-soldier and mainstream Americans in uniform interacting with those they defend. Both sides would benefit from enhanced civil-military relations, and national security aims would be better served by a populace that understands and supports its military.