A Matter of Strategic Focus
Abstract
We stand today at the trail-head that leads to the 21st century. The world ahead appears to be full of promise and opportunity -- and it is. The United States is engaged around the world with market economies that are open, growing, and flourishing. An exponential growth in technology is enhancing our lives and enabling us to master the art of international engagement. Things have never looked better. Or have they? In many ways, our situation today mirrors the one in which we found ourselves after World War II. As we were then, we are now -- the sole superpower, dominant in the world marketplace, militarily without peer -- the only nation capable of winning a war anywhere on the planet. Just as we did then, we now face important decisions concerning the defense structure with which we will maintain our place in the world and ensure our continued security. In 1945, with no clear threat, we felt safe in setting aside a significant amount of our military capability to use the money elsewhere. Today, we again have difficulty discerning our threats and once again ponder the nation's needs with respect to military forces. But in the decade after World War II, we came to learn that much in the world required our use of force. We learned it the hard way when we committed a hollow force to the Korean peninsula. We learned then, as perhaps we are learning now, that one clear victory -- in war or in Cold War -- cannot protect our worldwide interests or relieve us of our responsibility of vigilance against the dark forces of this world. This comparative analysis leads us to the question of our day: how should we build and maintain our national security posture for the 21st century? The answer lies in the expectations we have of our forces and of the use of those forces. To define these expectations, we must answer three questions: Why will we fight? Where will we fight? Whom will we fight?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA527933
Entities
People
- Charles C. Krulak
Organizations
- Air University