Obama Plan Would Slash Army, Limit Ability to Endure Long-Term Conflicts
Assuming he actually sticks to it, that would be a good start...
FULL STORY
The Obama administration has said it plans to cut $487 billion from the defense budget over the next decade, but the president, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other officials didn't offer details of where reductions would be made other than to say they'd shrink the size of ground forces. The details, they said, would be outlined during next month's budget session.
The implication of further cuts in the size of ground forces suggests that the department no longer plans to fight prolonged nation-building conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Rather, the department will invest in drones, unmanned aircraft, cybersecurity and creating a more agile force.
"We'll continue to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems so that we can invest in the capabilities that we need for the future, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, counterterrorism, countering weapons of mass destruction and the ability to operate in environments where adversaries try to deny us access," Obama said.
The United States would focus particularly on the Pacific and the Middle East, Panetta said. In Europe, he added, the U.S. strategy would "evolve."
"Confronting the threats of the 21st century demands greater flexibility to ... shift forces," Panetta said. "How we defeat the enemy may very well vary across conflicts."
The implication of further cuts in the size of ground forces suggests that the department no longer plans to fight prolonged nation-building conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Rather, the department will invest in drones, unmanned aircraft, cybersecurity and creating a more agile force.
"We'll continue to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems so that we can invest in the capabilities that we need for the future, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, counterterrorism, countering weapons of mass destruction and the ability to operate in environments where adversaries try to deny us access," Obama said.
The United States would focus particularly on the Pacific and the Middle East, Panetta said. In Europe, he added, the U.S. strategy would "evolve."
"Confronting the threats of the 21st century demands greater flexibility to ... shift forces," Panetta said. "How we defeat the enemy may very well vary across conflicts."
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