National Security Report: Background and Perspective on Important National Security and Defense Policy Issues. Volume 1, Issue 4, May 1997. A look Ahead at the Quadrennial Defense Review
Abstract
On May 15, the Defense Department is scheduled to submit to Congress the results of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), the blueprint that is intended to shape American military strategy and determine the structure of U.S. forces in the future. Though the final version of the QDR has yet to be released extensive press accounts and other sources reveal the scope of the review and the course it is taking. The likelihood of worsening mismatches between military strategy and resources under the QDR has caused many, including a number of senior military officers, to conclude that the prime goal of the review has been rationalizing smaller defense budgets rather than actually tailoring U.S. military forces and budgets to the strategic needs of the post-Cold War world. The artificial constraint of limited defense budgets led one senior general to conclude that "we still have dollars driving THE QDR instead of strategy," Similarly, the report of the National Defense Panel, the independent board of outside experts mandated by Congress to assess the QDR, is expected to emphasize the strategy-resources mismatch in its report accompanying the QDR, which is to be submitted to the Secretary of Defense December 1, 1997. "The QDR talks the talk' when it comes to strategy," said one panel member, "but doesn't seem to walk the walk' when it comes to budgets."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA377564
Entities
People
- Floyd Spence