Pentagon needs reform, not more Cold War dollars FINAL Edition

• Published in: The Sun (Baltimore, Md. : 1837)
• Main Author: Shanahan, Jack
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore, Md Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 26.10.2000
• Subjects: Bush, George W; Cold War; ORMOND BEACH, FLA
• ISSN: 1930-8965

This two-war strategy made sense during the Cold War when the United States faced off with another superpower. But today we are the undisputed military leader of the world, facing economically distressed adversaries with relatively weak militaries and low defense budgets. As a result, many Pentagon analyses, including two independent panels established by Congress, argue that the two-war strategy should be abandoned. Despite the consensus among the candidates and congressional leaders for maintaining Cold War defense structures and increasing defense spending, military analysts of all political stripes recognize that - in light of current national security threats - the $295 billion Pentagon budget can be trimmed by 15 percent or more without jeopardizing national security. The current force structure and costs simply do not reflect the defense requirements of the post- Cold War era. Under this review, the United States must define current and potential threats to U.S. national security and develop a military strategy - with appropriate force structures - to counter or neutralize these threats. Once the strategy is designed and approved, the armed services should be directed to configure their forces accordingly.