The Priorities of the New Pentagon Commanders: Consolidation not New Wars
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Published on: November 3rd 2007 16:01:47
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The many changes that have taken place at the top of the US military command structure over the past six months prompt us to update our earlier assessment of attitudes among top US military commanders. The changes include Admiral Mullen's appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1st, as well as at the regional commands, Central Command, Pacific Command, Special Operations Command and Strategic Command. In addition, a new Africa Command has been established. Based on public statements by them supplemented by conversations with our Pentagon contacts, it is possible to discern certain trends in the thinking of top Pentagon officers. The first is to wage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as effectively as possible. The second trend has broader implications: this is to recognize that US military capabilities are stretched to their limit and that both time and money are needed to restore these capabilities to war readiness. The third is to note that the US has global interests and that no one area – in this case the Middle East – should monopolize resources. Together, these trends suggest that the watchword among the top commanders is caution. Rather than looking for new wars, they want to avoid fresh undertakings. A good example is the Navy’s new maritime strategy. Given that this approach closely reflects that of Defense Secretary Gates, this means that the military advice reaching President Bush on issues like Iran and China emphasizes prudence. Should Bush decide to go in the opposite direction, he will first have to overcome the doubts of his top military advisers. This is not to imply that the military would defy Bush, but the case for war would need to be watertight.
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