It's All About Politics When It Comes To America's Newest Military Strategy

President Barack Obama briefs the press on a new defense strategy as Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prepare to offer remarks at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, members of the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries participated in the briefing. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

In Creating New Defense Strategy, Obama Attempts To Outflank Congress -- Scott Wilson and Greg Jaffe, Washington Post

As President Obama stood on the podium in the Pentagon briefing room Thursday to outline the nation’s defense priorities, the military stood with him. Their primary audience was a few miles across the Potomac River — in Congress.

Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose beloved Army will face a significant troop reduction under Obama’s plan, was at the president’s side. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos, whose service will also shrink, stood just behind him. And over Obama’s right shoulder loomed Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the former commander in Iraq who is now chief of staff of the Army.

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My Comment: America's military strategy and budget process has always been a political tool used by politicians .... but this military strategy review was actually a process that started in 2010 when the Democrats were in control of both houses of Congress. What has changed is America's debt crisis, and what should the priorities be. For President Obama and his supporters in Congress .... they have made it very clear that supporting the military in its present form is not their priority.

Two Commentaries (For And Against) On President Obama's New Military Startegy

President Barack Obama briefs the press on a new defense strategy as Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter prepare to offer remarks at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Obama's Modest Proposal On Defense -- Doyle McManus, L.A. Times

The president's Defense Strategy Review is sure to be criticized by Republicans as cutting too deep, but the real question is whether it cuts deep enough.

As he unveiled his administration's new blueprint for U.S. defense strategy last week, President Obama sought to vaccinate himself against charges that he was gutting the nation's military.

Even after the strategy is fully implemented, he said, "the defense budget will still be larger than it was at the end of the Bush administration."

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President Barack Obama briefs the press on a new defense strategy as Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter prepare to offer remarks at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

America’s Disarmed Future -- Arthur Herman, NRO

President Obama’s Pentagon cuts are indefensible.

You have to give President Obama credit. It takes serious gall to tell the American military to its face that you are putting it on the road to second-class status.

That’s exactly what our commander-in-chief did at the Pentagon yesterday, as he announced nearly half a trillion dollars in new spending cuts, after already chopping $480 billion during his first three years in office. He also set out plans for drastic reductions in our force size and continuing weapons programs, including the F-35 fighter — our last best hope for maintaining American dominance in the skies.

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With A New U.S. Military Strategy, Who Does The U.S. See Is The Biggest Threat

President Barack Obama, right, briefs the press with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. Obama, Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered remarks on a defense strategy for the Defense Department going forward. Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno stand behind Panetta and Obama. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Under New Defense Strategy, What Is Biggest Threat Facing US Now? -- Christian Science Monitor

The new defense strategy rolled out by the Pentagon Thursday centers on military priorities that are, in many cases, dramatically different from the ones that dominated the post-9/11 decade.

So just what kind of wars will the United States be fighting in the years to come? And whom does the Pentagon now see as the greatest threats to America?

In rolling out its new strategy review Thursday, Pentagon officials cited a new array of threats.

In the place of the post-9/11 war on terrorism, the Pentagon is turning its attention more toward a potentially aggressive China and rogue nuclear nations. And as much as any geographical location, the Pentagon is focusing on what it sees as the next great battleground: cyberspace.

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My Comment: So ..... who are the greatest threats to the U.S. today and in the years to come? China is a decade or two from being a significant military power. Russia does not have the demographics. Countries like North Korea and Iran may eventually develop nuclear weapons .... but they lack a proper delivery system to be a serious threat. Terrorism will always be with us .... but they cannot destroy us. Hmmmm .... from where I am standing .... for the foreseeable future the threats are there .... but they are not significant. But then again .... the Middle East may explode, Mexico's drug cartel war may cross our borders, China may threaten Taiwan, North Korea threatens South Korea, Pakistan implodes and an Islamic extremist group takes control .... the scenarios are many .... and they can easily involve us whether we want to or not.

Commentaries, Opinions, Analysis, And Editorials On America's New Military Strategy

Reading The Tea Leaves On Obama's New Military Strategy -- Ilan Berman, Forbes

Earlier today, President Obama unveiled a revamped national military strategy in a major address at the Pentagon. While the full details of the strategy—dubbed “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”—have yet to be disclosed, early reports offer some important insights into the Administration’s evolving national security and defense priorities.

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More Commentaries, Opinions, Analysis, And Editorials on America's New Military Strategy

Defense chief admits there is 'some risk' to slashing military -- Sara Carter, Washington Examiner
What Kind of Military Does America Really Want? -- Gary Schmitt, FOX News
Slashing America's Defense: A Suicidal Trajectory -- Max Boot, Commentary
Obama's white flag on national security: 'Yes, our military will be leaner' -- Andrew Malcolm, Investors.com
Why a one-war posture for the U.S. military will work -- Michael O’Hanlon, Washington Post
America's new lean fighting machine -- L.A Times editorial
A Leaner Pentagon -- New York Times editorial
Obama to shrink armed forces -- Rowan Scarborough and Sean Lengell, The Washington Times
Back to the Future for DoD -- Dave Duffy, Small Wars Journal
A budget strategy that courts disaster -- Dov Zakheim, Shadow Government/Foreign Policy
The risks of America's Asia strategy -- Andrew Billo, CNN
The Defense Budget and America’s Decline -- Peter Wehner, Commentary
Obama outlines leaner military but gives few specifics -- Nancy A. Youssef, Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Pentagon cuts: What will the new US military look like? -- Heather Hurlburt, BBC
New Pentagon strategy recasts military in Obama's image -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor
Obama defense plan would end ability to fight two conventional wars at once -- Joseph Straw, New York Daily News
Fewer, Better Nuclear Weapons Can Make the U.S. Stronger: View -- Bloomberg Businessweek editors
New Pentagon strategy stresses Asia, cyber, drones -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Barack Obama's defense plan could be 2012 issue -- Charles Hoskinson, Politico
Obama’s Defense Strategy Emphasizes Asia, Cybersecurity -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Analysis: Will Panetta stave off deeper cuts to military? -- Reuters
New Pentagon strategy stresses Asia, cyber, drones -- Reuters
Strategic Review Suggests Potential New U.S. Nuke Cuts -- Global Security Newswire
Pentagon Emphasizes Asia-Pacific, Cyber -- Bloomberg
New strategy to keep up spy technology funding -- Reuters
Panetta Said to Eye 14 Percent Cut in Army -- Military.com
U.S. To Drop Long-War Ability, Focus on Pacific -- Defense News
U.S.’s leaner military ‘turning a page’ on a decade of war: Obama -- National Post
Obama's Strategy for Trimmed Military -- Robert Burns, Time/AP
DoD’s “21st century priorities” -- Phillip Ewing, DoD Buzz
Obama Unveils Defense Cuts While Iran Threatens War -- KT McFarland, FOX News
New Obama Strategy Looks Misguided, Predictable, Underwhelming -- August Cole, Aol Defense
What the DoD’s New Strategy Means for Our Newest Tech -- Defense Tech
Tomorrow’s Pentagon: Doing Less, With More -- Mark Thompson, Time
Obama’s New Defense Plan: Drones, Spec Ops and Cyber War -- Spencer Ackerman, The Danger Room

WNU Editor: The document that outlines U.S. military strategies for the 21rst century can be found here.

American Grand Strategy On You Tube

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About American Grand Strategy But Were Afraid To Find Out... On YouTube -- Foreign Policy

The genesis of this blog post is a bit arcane. In response to news reports about proposed changes in U.S. defense doctrine, Andrew Exum jokingly suggested "replacing the 'Two Wars' strategy with a 'Who Wants Some? You? How About You, Tough Guy?' strategy" on Twitter. This led to other suggested mottos, expressed in YouTube videos, which eventually led to me issuing a grandiose call: suggest the YouTube clip that "best encapsulates American grand strategy."

Yeah, that should bring you up to speed.

Below you will find the ten eleven suggested clips that resonated the most for me, with some further elaboration by your humble blogger. WARNING: some profanity. Then again, if the profane is offensive to you, it's best that you not think too hard about American foreign policy.

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My Comment: Could not have said it any better.

Photo Gallery Of Today's Pentagon Briefing On The New U.S. Military Strategy

President Barack Obama walks with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to brief the press at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. Obama and Panetta delivered remarks on a new defense strategy for the Defense Department going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and the members of the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries joined them at the briefing. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

WNU Editor: The photo gallery can be viewed here.

Panetta on Pentagon Budget: 'Cutting Almost $500 Billion Is Not Chump Change'

In an interview Thursday after his news conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Jeffrey Brown that the United States seeks to be a power in the Pacific and that defense budget cuts announced Thursday will be hard on the military and families, but he hopes a smaller, more flexible armed forces will emerge.

WNU Editor: The transcript of this interview can be read here.

In Numbers, America's Shrinking Military

President Obama Unveils A New U.S. Military Strategy -- News And Analysis Roundup

Obama: The US Can No Longer Fight The World's Battles -- The Independent

President plans to cut half a million troops and says US can't afford to wage two wars at once.

The mighty American military machine that has for so long secured the country's status as the world's only superpower will have to be drastically reduced, Barack Obama warned yesterday as he set out a radical but more modest new set of priorities for the Pentagon over the next decade.

After the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that defined the first decade of the 21st century, Mr Obama's blueprint for the military's future acknowledged that America will no longer have the resources to conduct two such major operations simultaneously.

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More News On The New U.S. Military Strategy

Text: Obama’s Remarks on Military Spending -- New York Times

Obama Describes Refocused Strategy for Leaner Military -- New York Times
Military Faces Historic Shift: Obama Plan Would Slash Army, Limit Ability to Endure Long-Term Conflicts -- Wall Street Journal
US 'turns page on a decade of war' -- The Telegraph
Obama announces new, leaner military approach -- Washington Post
Obama Vows US Will Stay World's Top Military Power -- ABC News/AP
Obama: Defense cuts will mean 'leaner' U.S. military forces -- L.A. Times
Obama touts strategy for 'leaner' US military -- AFP
Obama unveils plans for pared-down military -- CNN
Obama announces Pentagon budget cuts -- USA Today
Obama unveils new strategy for 'leaner' US military -- BBC
Obama Describes Refocused Strategy for Leaner Military -- New York Times
Obama Unveils Defense Strategy for a Changing, Austere World -- National Journal
Obama Unveils New Military Shaped by Budget Cuts -- Voice of America
Obama reveals 'leaner' US defence strategy -- Al Jazeera
Barack Obama sets out plans for leaner military in historic strategy shift -- The Guardian
Obama takes cutback strategy to Pentagon -- Washington Times
Obama defense plan would end ability to fight two conventional wars at once -- New York Daily News
Pentagon chief: Smaller military means extra risk -- Yahoo News/AP

COMMENTARIES, ANALYSIS, AND OPINIONS

Obama outlines leaner military but gives few specifics -- Nancy A. Youssef, Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Pentagon cuts: What will the new US military look like? -- Heather Hurlburt, BBC
New Pentagon strategy recasts military in Obama's image -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor
Obama defense plan would end ability to fight two conventional wars at once -- Joseph Straw, New York Daily News
Fewer, Better Nuclear Weapons Can Make the U.S. Stronger: View -- Bloomberg Businessweek editors
New Pentagon strategy stresses Asia, cyber, drones -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Barack Obama's defense plan could be 2012 issue -- Charles Hoskinson, Politico
Obama’s Defense Strategy Emphasizes Asia, Cybersecurity -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Analysis: Will Panetta stave off deeper cuts to military? -- Reuters
New Pentagon strategy stresses Asia, cyber, drones -- Reuters
Strategic Review Suggests Potential New U.S. Nuke Cuts -- Global Security Newswire
Pentagon Emphasizes Asia-Pacific, Cyber -- Bloomberg
New strategy to keep up spy technology funding -- Reuters
Panetta Said to Eye 14 Percent Cut in Army -- Military.com
U.S. To Drop Long-War Ability, Focus on Pacific -- Defense News
U.S.’s leaner military ‘turning a page’ on a decade of war: Obama -- National Post
Obama's Strategy for Trimmed Military -- Robert Burns, Time/AP
DoD’s “21st century priorities” -- Phillip Ewing, DoD Buzz
Obama Unveils Defense Cuts While Iran Threatens War -- KT McFarland, FOX News
New Obama Strategy Looks Misguided, Predictable, Underwhelming -- August Cole, Aol Defense
What the DoD’s New Strategy Means for Our Newest Tech -- Defense Tech
Tomorrow’s Pentagon: Doing Less, With More -- Mark Thompson, Time
Obama’s New Defense Plan: Drones, Spec Ops and Cyber War -- Spencer Ackerman, The Danger Room

WNU Editor: The document that outlines U.S. military strategies for the 21rst century can be found here.

President Obama Unveils New U.S. Military Strategy -- News Roundup

Obama Unveils New Defense Strategy -- CBS News

President Obama and Pentagon leaders on Thursday unveiled a new defense strategy for a smaller, more flexible military force, which the president says will prepare the nation for the threats of the future while restoring balance between the defense budget and domestic spending.

"Yes, the tide of war is receding," Mr. Obama said Thursday in a rare appearance from the Pentagon, noting the end of the Iraq war and troop drawdowns in Afghanistan. "But the question that this strategy answers is what kind of military will we need after the long wars of the last decade are over. And today, we're fortunate to be moving forward, from a position of strength."

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More News On President Obama Unveiling A New U.S. Military Strategy

Obama announces new, leaner military approach -- Washington Post
Obama Vows US Will Stay World's Top Military Power -- ABC News/AP
Obama: Defense cuts will mean 'leaner' U.S. military forces -- L.A. Times
Obama touts strategy for 'leaner' US military -- AFP
Obama unveils plans for pared-down military -- CNN
Obama announces Pentagon budget cuts -- USA Today
Obama unveils new strategy for 'leaner' US military -- BBC
Obama Describes Refocused Strategy for Leaner Military -- New York Times
Obama Unveils Defense Strategy for a Changing, Austere World -- National Journal
Obama Unveils New Military Shaped by Budget Cuts -- Voice of America
Obama reveals 'leaner' US defence strategy -- Al Jazeera
Barack Obama sets out plans for leaner military in historic strategy shift -- The Guardian
Obama defense plan would end ability to fight two conventional wars at once -- New York Daily News
Pentagon chief: Smaller military means extra risk -- Yahoo News/AP

COMMENTARIES, ANALYSIS, AND OPINIONS

Strategic Review Suggests Potential New U.S. Nuke Cuts -- Global Security Newswire
Pentagon Emphasizes Asia-Pacific, Cyber -- Bloomberg
New strategy to keep up spy technology funding -- Reuters
Panetta Said to Eye 14 Percent Cut in Army -- Military.com
U.S. To Drop Long-War Ability, Focus on Pacific -- Defense News
U.S.’s leaner military ‘turning a page’ on a decade of war: Obama -- National Post
Obama's Strategy for Trimmed Military -- Robert Burns, Time/AP
DoD’s “21st century priorities” -- Phillip Ewing, DoD Buzz
Obama Unveils Defense Cuts While Iran Threatens War -- KT McFarland, FOX News
New Obama Strategy Looks Misguided, Predictable, Underwhelming -- August Cole, Aol Defense
What the DoD’s New Strategy Means for Our Newest Tech -- Defense Tech
Tomorrow’s Pentagon: Doing Less, With More -- Mark Thompson, Time
Obama’s New Defense Plan: Drones, Spec Ops and Cyber War -- Spencer Ackerman, The Danger Room

WNU Editor: The document that outlines U.S. military strategies for the 21rst century can be found here.

WNU Editor: A re-cap of today`s news and opinions on President Obama`s new military strategy will be posted at 12:00 AM tonight

President Obama To Unveil A Leaner U.S. Military Strategy

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Obama To Unveil Austere Pentagon Strategy -- Washington Post

President Obama is scheduled to make a rare visit to the Pentagon on Thursday to unveil details of a strategic review for the U.S. military that will consolidate missions and downsize the ambitions of the armed forces as they adjust to a new era of austerity, officials said.

Obama, who will be joined by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will place his personal imprint on a new military strategy that Pentagon officials have been preparing for months in anticipation of the largest cuts to the defense budget since the end of the Cold War.

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More News On America's New Military Strategy

Obama to unveil leaner US military strategy -- AFP
Obama Will Make Rare Pentagon Visit to Announce New Military Strategy and Reductions -- FOX News
Obama to appear at strategy unveiling -- Marine Times
Obama, Leon Panetta to unveil ‘more realistic’ vision for U.S. military -- National Post/Reuters
Obama to Make Rare Visit to Pentagon for Rollout of New Strategy -- National Journal
Pentagon to unveil plan guiding big spending cuts -- AP
In New Strategy, Panetta Plans Even Smaller Army -- New York Times
Panetta ending two-war strategy -- CNN
Obama plans to cut tens of thousands of ground troops -- Reuters
US Defense Cuts May Force Pentagon Strategy Shift -- Voice of America
New Pentagon strategy will guide defense cuts, shift US security focus to Asia -- Washington Post/AP
Military slashes number of troops in Europe as Obama orders $470bn cuts at Pentagon -- Daily Mail
Military spend gets a buzz cut as officials strive to define future roles -- Sydney Morning Herald
Panetta’s Defense Strategy Questioned Before It’s Released -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Obama Says US Military Can’t Win Two Wars at Once…Guess Why… -- Reuters
New Obama Strategy Looks Misguided, Predictable, Underwhelming -- August Cole, Aol Defense

What Is The Cost To US Security With The Pentagon's Abandonment Of It's Two-War Strategy?

U.S. sailors conduct a hot refueling of a AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during night flight operations aboard the USS Makin Island in the Indian Ocean, Dec. 30, 2011. The sailors are aviation boatswain’s mates, and the Cobra crew is assigned to the Red Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 Reinforced. Makin Island is on its maiden deployment and conducting operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alan Gragg

Pentagon To Abandon Two-War Strategy, But At What Cost To US Security? -- Christian Science Monitor

The Pentagon has long said it must be prepared to fight two wars at once. Budget cuts and changing global threats mean that standard is no longer practical, experts say.

The Pentagon appears to be on the cusp of abandoning a long-held strategic principle: that the US military should have the ability to wage two conventional wars simultaneously.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce the results of a large-scale strategic overview Thursday that will instead call for the military to be able to fight one large conventional war, and act as a “spoiler” for potential enemies in any other conflict that might crop up.

In the new military parlance, it’s the “one-plus strategy.”

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More News On The U.S. Abandoning It's Two War Strategy

Sources: Defense Budget Cuts Prevent Two-War Force Structure -- FOX News
Pentagon to unveil revised defense strategy -- Reuters
The “Strategic Pivot” to Asia Now Committed, Pentagon Can Float Allegedly Deep Cuts -- Time
U.S. Can't Fight Two Wars at the Same Time Anymore -- John Hudson, The Atlantic

My Comment: The Pentagon is being realistic with what they are capable of doing. As to fighting a big war against a major power .... right now .... there is only one country that fits "this bill" and that is China. But will China position itself to fight a war against the U.S. .... hmmmm .... from what I know about the Chinese I can honestly say that their focus is on economic development and growth. War against the U.S. is not even on their fantasy list.

U.S. Can No Longer Fight Two Wars At The Same Time

Reuters

U.S. Can't Fight Two Wars At The Same Time Anymore -- John Hudson, The Atlantic

This week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is poised to deliver a humbling assessment of America's military capabilities in a budget plan to the White House, reports The New York Times. The gist: The U.S. military of the future will no longer be able to fight two sustained ground wars at the same time. The strategic review will outline how the military can cut $450 billion from its budget, amid speculation that Congress may cut an additional $500 billion in the near future.

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My Comment: A sobering analysis and summary on U.S. budget/military strategy. Read it all.