Rebuilding America's Defenses

Strategy, Forces and Resources

For a New Century

A Report of

The Project for the New American Century

September 2000

ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR THE

NEW AMERICAN CENTURY

Established in the spring of 1997, the Project for the New American Century is a nonprofit,

educational organization whose goal is to promote American global leadership.

The Project is an initiative of the New Citizenship Project. William Kristol is chairman

of the Project, and Robert Kagan, Devon Gaffney Cross, Bruce P. Jackson and John R.

Bolton serve as directors. Gary Schmitt is executive director of the Project.

ÐŽ§As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the

worldÐŽ¦s most preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in

the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does

the United States have the vision to build upon the achievement of

past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a

new century favorable to American principles and interests?

ÐŽ§[What we require is] a military that is strong and ready to meet

both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and

purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national

leadership that accepts the United StatesÐŽ¦ global responsibilities.

ÐŽ§Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its

power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global

leadership of the costs that are associated with its exercise. America

has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia,

and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite

challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th

century should have taught us that it is important to shape

circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they

become dire. The history of the past century should have taught us

to embrace the cause of American leadership.ЎЁ

ÐŽV From the ProjectÐŽ¦s founding Statement of Principles

____PROJECT FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY____

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20036

Telephone: (202) 293-4983 / Fax: (202) 293-4572

REBUILDING

AMERICAÐŽ¦S

DEFENSES

Strategy, Forces and Resources

For a New Century

DONALD KAGAN GARY SCHMITT

Project Co-Chairmen

THOMAS DONNELLY

Principal Author

REBUILDING AMERICAÐŽ¦S DEFENSES

Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century

CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Key Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

I. Why Another Defense Review? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. Four Essential Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

III. Repositioning TodayÐŽ¦s Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

IV. Rebuilding TodayÐŽ¦s Armed Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

V. Creating TomorrowÐŽ¦s Dominant Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

VI. Defense Spending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Project Participants

Rebuilding AmericaÐŽ¦s Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century

i

INTRODUCTION

The Project for the New American

Century was established in the spring of

1997. From its inception, the Project has

been concerned with the decline in the

strength of AmericaÐŽ¦s defenses, and in the

problems this would create for the exercise

of American leadership around the globe

and, ultimately, for the preservation of

peace.

Our concerns were reinforced by the

two congressionally-mandated defense

studies that appeared soon thereafter: the

PentagonÐŽ¦s Quadrennial Defense Review

(May 1997) and the report of the National

Defense Panel (December 1997). Both

studies assumed that U.S. defense budgets

would remain flat or continue to shrink. As

a result, the defense plans and

recommendations outlined in the two reports

were fashioned with such budget constraints

in