National Military Strategy: Determinant, Resultant, or Figment.
Abstract
Secretary of Defense Harold Brown surveyed the one and one-half war strategy which has guided thinking about US general purpose force posture since 1969. His observations on the fundamental utility of what has served as US national strategy are revealing. 'Although, during the past decade, we never acquired all the readiness and mobility required by this strategy, we were not penalized for it because our potential enemies were relatively sluggish, and we were not put to the test by contingencies outside of Southeast Asia. But now times are changing.' Secretary Brown proposes a defense program which will begin to redress the shortfall in military forces needed to execute the national strategy; but as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General David Jones, observes the 'new system will not be available for many years.' Clearly, the hope is that the near term readiness measures which are being taken will suffice to protect US security interests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA110068
Entities
People
- David H. Roe
Organizations
- National Defense University