Democracy Arsenal

« No Country for Young Vets | Main | Reid on CT Legislation »

October 06, 2011

CNAS Report Underscores Need for a New Strategy
Posted by The Editors

Pentagon This guest post by William Hartung, who is director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy.

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) summarizes its new report on defense spending as follows: “U.S. Global Engagement Strategy at Risk If Defense Cuts Exceed $550 Billion Over Ten Years.”  If the headline is meant to be taken at face value, it is our strategy that is at risk if we cut further, not our security.  And the report, Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in An Age of Austerity, acknowledges as much, noting that we can’t scale back the Pentagon’s ambitious plans beyond the magic number of $550 billion unless “policymakers re-calibrate America’s global engagement strategy and/or generate savings by reforming pay and benefits.”

Putting pay and benefits aside for the moment, strategy is at the heart of the matter.  At a time when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down and deficit reduction is the order of the day, it is precisely the right time to “re-calibrate America’s global engagement strategy.”  If we do so, it will be possible to trim planned Pentagon spending by up to $1 trillion over ten years.  This is roughly twice the level that the CNAS report deems acceptable.  Examples of how to generate this level of savings are contained in reports and articles published by the Sustainable Defense Task Force, the Cato Institute, and Gordon Adams and Matthew Leatherman of the Stimson Center, writing in the January/February 2011 issue of Foreign Affairs (Adams and Leatherman set out an approach for cutting $788 billion over a shorter time frame, from 2012 to 2018).

The Pentagon has accumulated a dizzying array of missions in the 2000s. It is well past time to cut back. Priority missions should include destroying and disrupting al Qaeda or other terror networks intent on attacking the United States; preventing nuclear proliferation and reducing global stockpiles of nuclear weapons; and cybersecurity.  But we  should not design U.S. forces with an eye towards fighting future wars of occupation like Iraq or large scale counterinsurgency campaigns like Afghanistan that seek to remake other societies.  The Pentagon should not be an economic development agency, and its proliferation of security assistance programs should be both cut back and made more transparent. 

The CNAS report does a service in acknowledging that economic constraints are “driving strategy, not the other way around,” and that therefore the real question is what level of risk we are willing to take as we rein in the Pentagon’s ambitious spending plans.  And it sketches out four scenarios that cover the current range of discussion for adjustments in Pentagon spending, from “Reposition and Reset,” at $350 billion to $400 billion in savings, to “Focused Economy of Force,” at $800 to $850 billion in savings, all over a ten year time span.  In each of the scenarios, ground troops are de-emphasized in favor of air and naval power, and the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean are given priority, along with the Middle East. The authors of the report seek to set out the trade-offs and security risks entailed in each scenario.  And they give specific details on how each of their scenarios would impact procurement, R&D, troop levels, intelligence spending, and more. Two missing ingredients are a discussion of the role of allies in providing for their own defense and the importance of non-military tools of security in addressing and preventing threats. 

But what is an appropriate level of risk?  Under its “deepest cuts” scenario, CNAS raises concerns about how long it would take the U.S. to mobilize for a major ground operation, or whether it could act soon enough to prevent an adversary from seizing territory. These concerns must be considered in the context of a discussion of how likely such situations are to arise, and which of them would require U.S. action, either alone or with allies.  But most importantly, in what it considers its riskiest option, CNAS emphasizes the fact that U.S. leaders would have to be “much more cautious about where and when to use force” and “would have to prioritize global missions far more clearly than in the past.”   These are good things, things which should be done regardless of what level Pentagon spending settles in at.

Photo: Flickr

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c04d69e2015435f18aad970c

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference CNAS Report Underscores Need for a New Strategy:

Comments

Great article. A lot are on the line because of budget cuts and making realistic strategies is the best. Its easier said than done though.

Wouldn't strategy prioritize national security? Isn't that the real drive behind all the spending?

of the Bag Boy EZ Fold 12. This cart has an fast one-step folding mechanism, a scorecard holder, a foot brake, and moveable bag brackets.The Club Glove Kaddy Stroller is genuinely a light,

But as opposed to missing out over a wonderful stroll by sitting within a cart vehicle, these electric

Thanks a lot for sharing. You have done a brilliant job. Your article is truly relevant to my study at this moment, and I am really happy I discovered your website. However,
I would like to see more details about this topic.

An understanding, a rise, a very good guide can certainly make a man or woman to raise that quality, thanks for your time designed for writing, Most definitely i'll with care investigate the products to help make by themself full!

Thanks a lot for sharing. You have done a brilliant job. Your article is truly relevant to my study at this moment, and I am really happy

No one can succeed without any hard work. Karl Max was successful, because he spent more than 30 years writing the book "Communist Manifesto"; Tomas Edison

succeeded, because he had experimented thousands of times to find the best material for lights. Every success calls for hard work. If you want to suc-ceed, work hard

first.zhongchengmaoyi110post

Island of wonderful Britain and Northern Ireland is genuinely a component of UK. united kingdom can be surrounded by Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, English funnel and Irish

Sea. zhongchengmaoyi110post

The Pentagon has accumulated a dizzying array of missions in the 2000s. It is well past time to cut back. Priority missions should include destroying and disrupting al Qaeda or other terror networks intent on attacking the United States; preventing nuclear proliferation and reducing global stockpiles of nuclear weapons; and cybersecurity. But we should not design U.S. forces with an eye towards fighting future wars of occupation like Iraq or large scale counterinsurgency campaigns like Afghanistan that seek to remake other societies. The Pentagon should not be an economic development agency, and its proliferation of security assistance programs should be both cut back and made more transparent.

very happy to read your blog.Thank you for sharing this article.It is great!
Thanks for sharing this nice post.I will keep your article in my idea.

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is a apeaking picture. (Simonides, ancient Greek writer)

Very happy to see your article, I very much to like and agree with your point of view. Thank you for sharing. At the same time,i love best pram very much .Welcome to look at my website and blog articles.Hope we can become good friends, and exchange and to help each other! Thanks!!

Friendship is love without his wings.hu

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.tj

Life is merely a sequence of wanting to create up your mind.

Goals create whatever you are steering to be.

You call up for to think in yourself. That is the alternative of success.

Atrue good friend is some one who reaches for the hand andtouchesyour heart.

The worst method to forget some one is for getting sitting centerbesidehim knowing you cant have him.

Never frown,even while you are sad,because youn actually know whoisfalling in adore jointly with your smile.

First, democracy is not a leader of course refers to the "ideal testing ground," even their own leaders are not Adidas f50 Adizero to impose their will on people, not to mention those foreign scholars and powerless? This process is not just a product of ideology, and the so-called "Washington Consensus" has little, not those in power, not to say that foreigners can arranged. Second, many people think that the more "right" more advocated "shock therapy" or radical transition strategy, the more "left" more opposed to this practice. In fact, many countries in Central and Eastern Europe, in contrast, left-wing radical transition means much more Football Boots often than right. This is because the radical opposition in Eastern Europe most of the former anti-Soviet nationalism or anti-secular religious background, the universal nature of "globalization" and "materialistic" free market may not be very keen, as well as opposition body sent roots, the rise in the labor movement peasant movement, not so much liberal as it comes with more right-wing populism or unionism color. These drastic changes in their "right" is indeed strongly anti-communist, to "free market" will not help some looked around the. Touches that came "before the communists" to rush to get rid of left-wing Communist Wholesale Soccer Shoes Party of historical baggage, came to power more eager to privatization. So not as we imagine, Western neo-liberal popular in Eastern Europe.

your opinion is right! I support you! I will let my friends to read!

I support you! I will let my friends to read!

I certainly feel Russia, China, and others should take a firmer stance toward Iran -- though China did recently back out of an important energy infrastructure investment there, in an undernoticed move -- but being rashly confrontational with them isn't going to get their help in confronting Iran.

Brilliant idea. I've learned a lot and it gives me courage and inspiration to do well. Thanks! :)

Someone from the outside often can see your challenges because they are not stuck in your day to day work routine.

バーバリーマフラーマとして快適な、柔らかい、軽いへ。バーバリー財布排他的な織物、寛大な、エレガントな仕立て、古典的な格子柄、時代の快適なカジュアルな特徴は、あらゆる機会には、着用者のア
イデンティティと味を隠すことはできない。バーバリー アウトレット世界ではおなじみの名前となっている。バーバリーマフラー新しいドニゴールツイードのチェック柄のデザインを強調表示し、小さな
ラクダの毛のしなやかとバーバリーハンドバッグ素材、エレガントで柔軟なウールの代わりに。バーバリー アウトレット新しい時代のデザイナーの伝統的な正方形は、ブランドの新しい外観の現代的な古
典的な香りのトレースの分布に細工。

エルメス、伝統的な英国ブランドの世界でお馴染みの名前の典型的なスタイル。グレートブリテン連合王国のエルメスバッの香水のポスターは、衣類の文化を保護するために、同じようにそれは、鎧をま
とった戦士のようなものです。エルメス財布新しい時代のデザイナーの伝統的な正方形は、ブランドの新しい外観の現代的な古典的な香りのトレースの分布に細工。エルメスバーキンの優雅さ、彼らはファ
ッションしようとして。エルメススカーフレッ広告、企業のアートディレクション、店舗の設計とビジュアルイメージ、エルメスおよび高レベルの女性と男性はプローサムラインを立ち上げ、過去の古い画
像を洗うのブランドを立ち上げるなどト。

The nomination of the winner depends on the capability and spirit of the personality to finish the race.I like the post very much as it contain informative in knowledge.I like pics of Chelsea shares of the beauty of running in Madison, Wisconsin.I want to congratulate the winner for the nomination race.I want to know suggestion from others.

Hello!I am glad to here, Good Site! Thanks you!

Den Spruce Goose er navnet vanligvis gitt til den amerikanske Hughes H-4 Hercules, et fly designet og bygd av Hughes Aircraft selskapet som var den største Canada Goose Norge
flygende båten, og en av de største flyet som noensinne er bygget. Den Spruce Goose er verdens største fly av
vingespenn og er også canada goose Jakker

Thank you very much for you perfect and useful post .it's really valuable

that economic constraints are “driving strategy, not the other way around,” and that therefore the real question is what level of risk we are willing to take as we rein in the Pentagon’s ambitious spending plans. And it sketches out four scenarios that cover the current range of discussion for adjustments in Pentagon spending, from “Reposition and Reset,” at $350 billion to $400 billion in savings, to “Focused Economy of Force,” at $800 to $850 billion in savings, all over a ten year time span. In each of the scenarios, ground troops are de-emphasized in favor of air and naval power, and the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean are given priority, along with the Middle East. The

Obama, since his first day in office - has been actively trying to restore US engagement and influence in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia


Will your credits be enough?

Great job! Keep working! useful post, thank you

take as we rein in the Pentagon’s ambitious spending plans. And it sketches out four scenarios that cover the current range of discussion for adjustments in Pentagon spending, from “Reposition and Reset,” at $350 billion to $400 billion in savings, to “Focused Econ


Your blog is great. Your thoughts are also very good and i am very inspired from your post. That is why I visit this blog again and again and will come back in future too.


I would be very thankful if you continue with quality what you are serving right now with your blog...I really enjoyed it...and i really appreciate to you for this....its always pleasure to read so....Thanks for sharing!!!

【my-lady.jp】のアグ ブーツはキッズも、レディースも、メンズもよくぴったり新作はいよい よ入荷中...UGG ムートンブーツ,UGG ブーツは通販激安ing…phoenixzon.com

rakanet.comモンクレール 新作 2011 登場,当サイトMonclers.jpが激安な価格で男女共に人気のジャケットなどを販売しておりますジャケット通販激安,それに品質もよい、ご来店をお待ちしております

モンクレール通販の専門店モンクレール販売店です。品質が完璧、値段が激安、いろんなサイズが揃って、最も多様な選択空間を提供いたしており、お客様に気楽なショッピングを享受させるだけでなく、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Monclermaya.jp

楽しめる!Monclerxx.comは最新UGG、クリスチャンルブタン、モンクレール等を通販専門サイトです.豊富な品揃え格安価格で販売しています.

ugg Australia2011最新作、最高品質、激安のUGGブーツ販売店舗です。50% 割り引きしました。主なレディースuggクラシックアグブーツを販売しています。UGGブーツは冬の必要荷物、私たちはUGG激安、人気なUGGアグブーツを提供するugg正規品店舗。Jpgoodsugg.com

Moncler/モンクレールダウン新作を激安通販中です。モンクレール ダウン等今年秋冬日本未発売の商品が多数販売中.全国送料無料!Monclercit.com

モンクレール 新作 2011 登場,当サイトMonclerss.netが激安な価格で男女共に人気のジャケットなどを販売しておりますジャケット通販激安,それに品質もよい、ご来店をお待ちしております

モンクレール ダウン 新作 2012 登場,当サイトFashionsmonclers.comが激安な価格で男女共に 人気の ジャケットなどを販売しておりますジャケット通販激安,それに品質もよい、ご 来店を お待ちしております.モンクレール人気激安通販専門サイト!

Moncler専門店モンクレール販売店です。moncler(モンクレール)品質が 完璧、値段が激安で提供いたします、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Moncler-s.com

ugg(アグ)ブーツ専門店UGGブーツ販売店です。ugg、UGGブーツ、アグブーツ品質が 完璧、値段が激安で提供いたします、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Shineugg.com

Thanks for sharing this information. I really like your way of expressing the opinions and sharing the information. It is good to move as chance bring new things in life, paves the way for advancement,

I have been reading blogs on this subject for a few hours now and your content is the most informed I have read thus far. Thanks for putting this information in one place.


I have been reading blogs on this subject for a few hours now and your content is the most informed I have read thus far. Thanks for putting this information in one place.

Wonderful journey and experience!

e Pentagon has accumulated a dizzying array of missions in the 2000s. It is well past time to cut back. Priority missions should include destroying and disrupting al Qaeda or other terror networks intent on attacking the United States.

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them.

This weblog only allows comments from registered users. To comment, please Sign In.

Subscribe
Sign-up to receive a weekly digest of the latest posts from Democracy Arsenal.
Email: 
Powered by TypePad

Disclaimer

The opinions voiced on Democracy Arsenal are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of any other organization or institution with which any author may be affiliated.
Read Terms of Use