Think Tank Weighs in on the Next QDR

On November 17, 2008, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments released three reports in its Strategy for the Long Haul research and education program designed to support the Pentagons upcoming strategic review:>> -- An Army at the Crossroads, by Andrew Krepinevich> -- The US Marine Corps: Fleet Marine Forces for the 21st Century, by Dakota Wood> -- US Special Operations Forces: Challenges and Opportunities, by Robert Martinage>> The reports were released at the US Military Services and the Strategy for the Long Haul half-day conference at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC. The conference was attended by over 100 military experts from Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, the defense industry, and the media.>> In his opening remarks, CSBA Board Chair Dave McCurdy, noted the exceptional timeliness of the studies. He also observed that these studies assess the forces most heavily engaged in operations against Islamic extremist elements and, consequently, will likely be accorded high priority in the incoming Obama Administrations defense posture review.>> Among the studies recommendations are those calling for the new administration to strongly consider:>> -- Creating a Dual-Surge Army that better reflects that Services commitment to field a force that is truly full-spectrum capable, while undertaking a thorough review of the Armys troubled Future Combat System; and terminating efforts to increase the size of the Active and Reserve Components by over 70,000 soldiers.>> -- Conducting a thorough review of the Marine Corps current operational doctrine, planned acquisition of equipment, and organizational construct in light of the rapidly changing conflict environment, while terminating the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program and truncating the MV-22 buy.