Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Gates Cuts Leading to ‘Strategic Drawdown:’ Wynne -- A Commentary

From DoD Buzz:

Former Air Force Secretary Mike Wynne argues below that Defense Secretary Gates’ acquisition decisions last week reflect that the United States is focused so intently on “becoming the armed custodians in two nations, Afghanistan and Iraq” that the country is engaging in a “strategic drawdown.”

Although the decision to curtail F-22 production attracted much ink in the last week, Wynne argues that the F-22 decision– while important — must be analyzed together with Gates’ other decisions to understand that the Pentagon is “reducing the President’s options to protect U.S. interests.”

Read more ....

My Comment: First .... former Air Force Secretary Mike Wynne had to resign when news on the nuclear transportation fiasco became public. He is not a friend of Defense Secretary Gates .... who probably insisted on his resignation from the service when this news became known.

But having said this, I still find his post a depressing but accurate assessment on what cutbacks to the US. Department of Defense may entail for a future President when he has to make decisions based on limited options. On this point .... I find little to disagree with.

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