The End of the Bush Military Posted by Max Bergmann

Yesterday Secretary Gates officially buried the military strategy that had defined the Bush administration. The strategy somewhat incorrectly labeled "transformation" was vigorously pursued by Secretary Rumsfeld. It provided the foundation for the catastrophic war plans in Afghanistan and Iraq and came to dominate the thinking behind DoD procurement. While Gates' announcement may seem like an obvious development, the fact is that Gates' comments have real ramifications for the future direction of the military.

During the 2000 election campaign, conservatives were quick to attack the Clinton administration for cutting defense spending and pursuing dainty peacekeeping and stability operations in Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo. To conservatives these operations were a distraction from the real fights of the 21st century. The military even classified these missions as "operations other than war." Instead, conservative emphasized "transforming" the military to fight "21st century wars" by developing new highly advanced weapons systems that could instantly identify and destroy targets with pinpoint accuracy. In this vision of warfare speed and firepower were highly valued, ground forces were less essential and as a result needed to be smaller, lighter and more lethal. Warfare was essentially boiled down to a bunch of targets to be destroyed, as evidenced by Rumsfeld's infamous consternation over invading Afghanistan immediately after 9-11 when he said that there "aren't any good targets in Afghanistan."

Gates' speech importantly casts this naive vision of warfare aside:

Be modest about what military force can accomplish, and what technology can accomplish. The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S. military can do... But also never neglect the psychological, cultural, political, and human dimensions of warfare, which is inevitably tragic, inefficient, and uncertain. Be skeptical of systems analysis, computer models, game theories, or doctrines that suggest otherwise. Look askance at idealized, triumphalist, or ethnocentric notions of future conflict that aspire to upend the immutable principles of war: where the enemy is killed, but our troops and innocent civilians are spared. Where adversaries can be cowed, shocked, or awed into submission, instead of being tracked down, hilltop by hilltop, house by house, block by bloody block.

Gates also adds that:

As we can expect a blended, high-low mix of adversaries and types of conflict, so too should America seek a better balance in the portfolio of capabilities we have – the types of units we field, the weapons we buy, the training we do. When it comes to procurement, for the better part of five decades, the trend has gone towards lower numbers as technology gains made each system more capable. In recent years these platforms have grown ever more baroque, ever more costly, are taking longer to build, and are being fielded in ever dwindling quantities.Given that resources are not unlimited, the dynamic of exchanging numbers for capability is perhaps reaching a point of diminishing returns.

The implications of this are huge. Under the conservative vision of military "transformation" weapons systems were not tied to defeating any particular threat, but were developed merely for the sake of making our military more capable. In other words, we continue to develop the F-22 not to defeat advanced Soviet aircraft which it was originally developed for, but merely to have a much better plane. What Gates' is essentially saying is that we should again tie weapons development to the threats and challenges we face - and since those are likely to be of the low-tech asymmetrical variety, instead of spending more than 300 million for each F-22, may be we can live with building more F-15s and F-16s for much less. Almost every weapons program this decade has been justified in terms of the abstract vision of "transformation" not any particular threat or challenge. Large, technologically advanced weapons programs take decades to develop and Gates' comments essentially cast doubt on many of these programs.

Over the last couple years Gates has effectively laid the ground work for the next administration to undertake a massive restructuring of the military. This is incredibly important in light of the inevitable budget tightening that the Pentagon will experience over the next few years. If and when this restructuring happens, Gates will deserve a lot of credit.

Comments

[wow gold]

SEO, search engine optimization. Is to make your Web site or Blog search engines more popular in other search-related content, as far as possible to make your site appear in the results of the first of several. This will bring a wow power leveling lot of traffic, instead of complaining all day: Why am I the one does not see. At present, some of my traffic from search engine Baidu and is the most stable source of traffic. I almost did not do anything, so naturally things happened. If the SEO from the point of view, I probably spent the most stupid and most simple way, but really effective. If the search engine as a beauty, then what is the point of a simple way to let her eyes you see more of it? First, you havewow powerleveling enough fresh interesting. Second, you are unique and eye-catching. Third, you are indeed very interesting new connotation enough to say that the speed of your time in the first issued a message, followed by everyone from here to you, then you are a source of information. Found on the girl has great respect for the source of information, as your grasp, it would wow gold be tantamount to grasp the numerous reproduced the contents of your site. In that case, she must be approved by the Changlaikankan your station. The fastest you that she is from here you get the fastest, so her customers can also receive up-to-date search results. So, note to Mars will not do. The result is you confuse the site in a large site on Mars, found the girl simply can not tell to your face.

[rf money]

They supply cheapest rf cp for the player.
They have cheap rf gold. I usually
buy rf gold from them.
rf online goldThey have professional worker help you.

[rohan online crone]

I get a lot of rohan crone and the rohan gold is very important for anyone who wants to play the net game. Most of the rohan online croneis the access to the net game. If you have the rohan online gold, you can make good use of them to enjoy yourself in the game.

[cheap rappelz rupees]

I get a lot of rappelz rupeesand the rappelz gold is very important for me. Some of the rappelz money is given by my friends who buy rupees to let me happy.

[dd]

I hope i can get Sho Online Mun in low price,
Yesterday i bought Sho Mun for my friend.

[cheap mabinogi]

Do want to know the magic of online games, and here you can get more mabinogi gold. Do you want to have a try? Come on and cheap mabinogi can make you happy.

[tiffany rings]

Do want to know the magic of online games

[luxury watches]

I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[dsi]

A little while ago, and just sighed, for it's almost Exactly what many of us were saying, for years, but especially in the buildup to the Iraq Conflict and the start of Occupying Afghanistan, 7years, alot of lives and destruction, later.Gates does at least speak with sense and experiance, but he does so in political speak, not real speak, leaving to many doors open when read between the lines, as you point out.

[replica handbags]

There is no black and white colors, such as gray and red like a timeless classic, and eventually replica handbagsbecome worse, Homme Dior, black A06 wake up call, the foreigners rouge, further improve the design of the initial sales to noble pure deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) Homme Dior, Dior men will bring clean ao in front of us the overall structure, surrounded by a black dial, simplereplica handbags and stylish design style spirit of Dior Homme.

[Orange County Appraiser]

Almost every weapons program this decade has been justified in terms of the abstract vision of "transformation" not any particular threat or challenge.

[Find Senior Housing]

To conservatives these operations were a distraction from the real fights of the 21st century.

[Nursery Furniture]

the dynamic of exchanging numbers for capability is perhaps reaching a point of diminishing returns.

[Bathroom Furniture]

Large technologically advanced weapons programs take decades to develop and Gates' comments essentially cast doubt on many of these programs.

[California Tax Lawyers]

Under the conservative vision of military "transformation" weapons systems were not tied to defeating any particular threat, but were developed merely for the sake of making our military more capable.

[Window Cleaning Melbourne]

I think that day will be a black day for us....

[Mykalai Kontilai]

I think end of the bush military is the black day for them...

[LocalPosition.com]

In recent years these platforms have grown ever more baroque, ever more costly, are taking longer to build, and are being fielded in ever dwindling quantities.

[Danny DeMichele]

Technologically advanced weapons programs take decades to develop and Gates' comments essentially cast doubt on many of these programs.

[Lynn Brandstater]

In the Air National Guard, expensively trained pilots are not casually suspended. There is normally a Flight Inquiry Board, which exercises the military chain of command's obligation to insure due process.Thanks

[Nightly Business Report]

The Military documents were initially claimed by CBS to have come from the "personal files" of the late Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, Bush's squadron commander during Bush's Air National Guard service....

[InternetSlander.com]

Look askance at idealized, triumphalist, or ethnocentric notions of future conflict that aspire to upend the immutable principles of war: where the enemy is killed, but our troops and innocent civilians are spared.

[HomeLivingSolutions.com]

Gates does at least speak with sense and experiance, but he does so in political speak, not real speak, leaving to many doors open when read between the lines, as you point out.

[GaiaSaunas.com]

When it comes to procurement, for the better part of five decades, the trend has gone towards lower numbers as technology gains made each system more capable.

[Donald Cassat]

It was this approach to American foreign policy that sent hundreds of thousands of people across the Third World to their deaths in the name of protecting American national interests.thanks for shared this with us.

[Eco Village]

Gates does at least speak with sense and experiance, but he does so in political speak, not real speak, leaving to many doors open when read between the lines, as you point out.

[local position]

The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S.

[Trade Key]

Under the conservative vision of military "transformation" weapons systems were not tied to defeating any particular threat, but were developed merely for the sake of making our military more capable.

[Cross Country Home Services]

This is incredibly important in light of the inevitable budget tightening that the Pentagon will experience over the next few years.

[HMS Home Warranty]

Given that resources are not unlimited, the dynamic of exchanging numbers for capability is perhaps reaching a point of diminishing returns.

[Internet Slander Lawsuits]

I think the conservative vision of military "transformation" weapons systems were not tied to defeating any particular threat, but were developed merely for the sake of making our military more capable.

[Gatehouse Academy Reviews]

These operations were really a distraction from the real fights of the 21st century.

[Trent Jordan]

They continue develop the F-22 not to defeat advanced Soviet aircraft which it was originally developed for, but merely to have a much better plane.

[Pet Care Rx Reviews]

There is normally a Flight Inquiry Board, which exercises the military chain of command's obligation to insure due process.Thanks.

[Gatehouse Academy Reviews]

It provided the foundation for the catastrophic war plans in Afghanistan and Iraq..

[Buy Toyota Parts]

The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains to the U.S. military.

[Amy Laurent]

The conservative vision of military "transformation" weapons systems were not tied to defeating any particular threat, but were developed merely for the sake of making our military more capable.

[San Diego Oceanfront rentals]

Every weapon program this decade has been justified in terms of the abstract vision of "transformation" not any particular threat or challenge.

[Bathroom Wholesale]

Almost every weapons program this decade has been justified in terms of the abstract vision of "transformation" not any particular threat or challenge.

[Internet Slander Lawsuits]

This is incredibly important in light of the inevitable budget tightening that the Pentagon will experience over the next few years. If and when this restructuring happens, Gates will deserve a lot of credit.

[New Foreclosure Online]

Technologically advanced weapons programs take decades to develop and Gates' comments essentially cast doubt on many of these programs.

[office cleaning services]

From my point of view, I probably spent the most stupid and most simple way, but really effective.

[led mining lamp]

Specialize in manufacture explosion proof light, including: explosion proof floodlight, led flashlight, spot lamp, led mining light, led searching light with rechargeable battery in China.

[Baby Nursery Accessories]

I think they have to continue develop the F-22 not to defeat advanced Soviet aircraft which it was originally developed for, but merely to have a much better plane.

[2010 Audi A3 Parts]

Well The strategy somewhat incorrectly labeled "transformation" was vigorously pursued by Secretary Rumsfeld.Thanks for the information.

[Buy Me Private]

There is normally a Flight Inquiry Board, which exercises the military chain of command's obligation to insure due process.

[Condo Target]

There is normally a Flight Inquiry Board,which exercises the military chain of command's obligation to insure due process.

[Freight Brokering]

Trained pilots are not casually suspended...the dynamic of exchanging numbers for capability is perhaps reaching a point of diminishing returns.

[Chevy astro parts]

The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S. military can do.

[Danny Demichele]

The advances in precision,sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S. military can do.

[Homesure Services]

In the Air National Guard, expensively trained pilots are not casually suspended.There is normally a Flight Inquiry Board, which exercises the military chain of command's obligation to insure due process!!

[Cách nhiệt]

Thanks for the post. There are several things I need to know via this discussion.

[Office Cleaning Melbourne]

Technically innovative items applications take decades to develop and Gates' feedback primarily toss doubt on many of these applications.

In the Air Nationwide Shield, expensively qualified aviators are not satisfied hanging. There is normally a Journey Query Board, which workouts the army cycle of command's responsibility to guarantee due process.Thanks