The Pentagon has rolled out its new strategy for the next twenty years. The emphasis has shifted a little bit; however, the overall approach remains the same.
For one thing, the biggest adversary USSR is gone; the emphasis is now on China, Russia and India and the efforts to dissuade them from becoming the next super powers. The main ideological focus I believe remains the Islamists. For them unconventional warfare is needed. The pentagon has proposed smaller more specialized units to combat these. There are certain other changes as well.
According to an article in the Washington Post:
When a major crisis, such as a terrorist strike or outbreak of hostilities, occurs — requiring a “surge” in forces — the U.S. military will plan for “somewhat higher level of contributions from international allies and partners, as well as other Federal agencies,” the review concludes.
The new strategy marks a clear shift away from the Pentagon’s long-standing emphasis on conventional wars of tanks, fighter jets and destroyers against nation-states. Instead, it concentrates on four new goals: defeating terrorist networks; countering nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; dissuading major powers such as China, India and Russia from becoming adversaries; and creating a more robust homeland defense.
Central to the first two goals is a substantial 15 percent increase in U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), now with 52,000 personnel, including secret Delta Force operatives skilled in counterterrorism.
The review calls for a one-third increase in Army Special Forces battalions, whose troops are trained in languages and to work with indigenous fighters; an increase in Navy SEAL teams; and the creation of a new SOF squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles to “locate and target enemy capabilities” in countries where access is difficult.
In addition, civil affairs and psychological operations units will gain 3,500 personnel, a 33 percent increase, while the Marine Corps will establish a 2,600-strong Special Operations force for training foreign militaries, conducting reconnaissance and carrying out strikes.
Read the full story here and here…
