The winding down of operations in Iraq, the anticipated winding down in Afghanistan, growing concerns over China’s military modernization effort, and reductions in U.S. defense spending resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 together have set the stage for a debate over the country’s future role in the world and its military strategy for supporting it. Although my position prevents me from taking a position on what the outcome of that debate should be, my hope is that it will be informed by strong presentations of competing perspectives, because I am of the view that such an approach is more likely to result in the best possible decisions.
