Friday, January 08, 2010

Admiral Mullen at the Naval War College

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, came to the Naval War College today to give a talk. I see it as giving us a glimpse at what is on his plate.

More detailed comments are over at Global Security.

One point I didn't make at that site: he is aware of the need to connect the dots between the inevitable decline in U.S. defense budgets with enlisting allies, partners and coalitions to handle international security.

Comments:
The problem with relying on diplomacy if the U.S. cannot meet its commitments alone is that the U.S. and its allies do not appear to share the same perception of what commitments need to be made. But this is a policy matter for civilian leaders to decide. I take the rest of Admiral Mullen's remarks about planning for the aftermath of Afghanistan and Iraq to imply that the Pentagon sees us out or nearly out of both countries in the next four or five years.
 
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