New US Defense Strategy Stresses Terrorism and Small Wars | Voice of America - English
The Pentagon issued a new U.S. National Defense Strategy Thursday, emphasizing the need for the U.S. military, and the entire government, to be prepared to fight global terrorism and related small-scale conflicts like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The new strategy updates a document issued in 2005 under then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.  VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.The National Defense Strategy says the U.S.
TheNational Defense Strategy says the U.S. military needs to be preparedto fight a variety of adversaries, current and potential. But theemphasis of the document reflects two themes Defense Secretary RobertGates has been promoting since he took office a year and a half ago -the need to maintain and improve the ability to fight insurgencies andthe need to bring all aspects of government power to bear in theeffort, not just the military. "Ifirmly believe that in the years ahead, our military is much morelikely to engage in asymmetric conflict than conventional conflictagainst a rising state power," Gates explained at a news conference on Thursday. "We must be ready for bothkinds of conflict, and fund the capabilities to do both." "There is nodoubt in my mind that the modernization programs will continue to havestrong institutional and congressional support. I just want to makesure that the capabilities we need for the conflicts we're in, and mostlikely to face in the foreseeable future, also are sustained long-term," he added. Thestrategy document identifies al-Qaida and related groups as "a complexand urgent challenge" against which the United States is likely tofight "an extended series of campaigns." It says the wars in Iraq andAfghanistan are "central fronts in the struggle," but are only part ofa broader "Long War." The document says the Untied States must have a"mastery" of the type of warfare such a war requires, just as it has astrong capability in traditional warfare. It says defeating violentextremism is the "central objective" of the United States because itthreatens the U.S. "way of life as a free and open society." Thedocument says the fight is not only military, but also requires "allelements of national power," and partnerships with old and new allies. It says the "prolonged irregular campaign" is a "clash of arms" butalso "a war of ideas," and it will require increased U.S. assistance tohelp a variety of nations keep extremists out through improvedsecurity, better governance and increased economic opportunities fortheir people. At the same time, the new U.S. National DefenseStrategy says the United States must maintain its ability to deter ordefeat what it calls "rogue nations," specifically mentioning Iran andNorth Korea. And it says the U.S. military must be prepared forpotential threats from "more powerful states," such as China andRussia. But Secretary Gates says the United States is also working toimprove relations with those two countries. "I don't see eithernation as a threat to the United States at this point," he said. "Butthey both are investing in modernization programs that are of concern." Thestrategy document says the U.S. Defense Department "will respond toChina's expanding military power, and to the uncertainties over how itmight be used." It says that response will involve engagement withChina, as well as improving specific U.S. military capabilities tobalance China's military modernization. It calls for China to be moretransparent about its military spending and intentions. Thedocument accuses Russia of a "retreat from democracy," and of"increasing economic and political intimidation of its neighbors." Itsays Russia is not expected "to revert to outright global militaryconfrontation, but the risk of miscalculation or conflict arising outof economic coercion has increased." It endorses U.S. cooperation withRussia on a variety of world issues. The document also warns ofnew threats to U.S. national security, including attacks by "disruptivetechnologies" and efforts to use mass communications to manipulateglobal public opinion. It also says the increasing world demand forenergy and economic development, and even problems related to climatechange, could pose security challenges in the coming years.