Since the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review, the Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a high priority on institutionalizing capabilities-based planning (CBP). In an era of uncertainty, such an approach is helpful for optimizing forces across a broad range of mission sets and within fiscal constraints. The conduct of stability operations is a mission area with particular promise for the application of capabilities-based planning. This monograph proposes a capabilities-based framework to generate capability packages for future stability operations. The study was conducted from March 2007 through August 2007 and included a scenario-based workshop to test the validity and utility of CBP-derived capability packages. This report delineates CSIS's findings and recommendations on the project.