The Strategy-Resources Mismatch: Past, Present, and Future
Abstract
Throughout the tenure of the current administration, critics have lamented the multi-billion dollar shortfall in defense resources relative to U.S. military strategy and force structure requirements. During this period, underfunding has plagued the procurement account, where a holiday from major systems acquisitions has created a large recapitalization requirement, as well as the operations and maintenance (O&M) account, depleted by unprecedented troop deployment levels. Critics have estimated that the Bottom-Up Review 1993 force, and its successor, the Quadrennial Defense Review 1997 force, have been underfunded by up to $30 billion per year. This substantial mismatch between strategy and resources has generated a lively political critique of an administration lacking understanding and vision of national security strategy. This paper argues, however, that the administration's approach is merely a continuation of U.S. hegemonic grand strategy dating to the end of World War II, and that the current resource mismatch is nothing new. Furthermore, this paper contends that this strategy will continue to guide U.S. security policy, and in concert with emerging external and domestic trends will perpetuate the resource mismatch for the foreseeable future. The paper concludes that this strategy will also result in the frequent and continued use of U.S. military force in limited-objective interventions, and in increasing tensions in U.S. civil-military relations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA432148
Entities
People
- Ron Moore
Organizations
- National Defense University