Leadership: April 10, 2002

Archives

: The Pentagon is gearing up for another strategic review, and is determined to get what it wants (and to get out of what it doesn't want). There are (barely) enough troops today for the missions being conducted, but no surplus to speak of for emergencies in unexpected regions. Some key points: 

@ The Pentagon knows it is going to get major infusions of cash, and the generals and admirals are already putting down markers. They want more training, more troops, and more new weapons. They particularly want to pay down the huge maintenance shortfalls of the Clinton years and build up the ammunition stockpile. But these things will take time and, even with lots of extra money, there won't be significant differences for a year or two.

@ The biggest problem is "low density, high demand" units. The low-density part means we never bought enough of them, and the high demand part means we're using everything we have at the limit of its endurance. Such units include special forces, intelligence gathering and processing, air transports, and unmanned recon drones. --Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close