Stephenson, James
James Stephenson is a retired senior Foreign Service office with twenty-eight years’ experience in rebuilding states at war or recovering from war. He was USAID mission director in Lebanon and in Serbia and Montenegro prior to assuming that position in Iraq. He also served in Egypt, Grenada, and El Salvador. A decorated Vietnam War veteran, he is a recognized expert on post-conflict transition, civilian-military cooperation, and counterinsurgency.
In emergency medicine “the golden hour” is the first hour after injury during which treatment greatly increases survivability. In post-conflict transition terminology, it is the first year after hostilities end. Without steadily improving conditions then, popular support declines and chances for economic, political, and social transformation begin to evaporate. James...