What The QDR Means For Our Wars Against Radical Islam And The Long Term Goals Of The US Military

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on the fiscal year 2011 Defense Department budget request in Washington, D.C., Feb. 3, 2010. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

An End to the "Long War" -- Robert Farley, American Prospect

The current Quadrennial Defense Review underscores the stark contrast between Obama's and Bush's visions for U.S. military engagement.

On Monday, the Obama administration released a pair of critical documents indicating the path it intends to take on military and defense issues. One of these documents was the budget for fiscal year 2011, which calls for an increase in defense spending as well as the restructuring of a couple of major weapons programs. The other document was the Quadrennial Defense Review, or QDR. Every four years, the Department of Defense reports to Congress on its long-term strategic and procurement plans. The QDR gives the White House the opportunity to both lay the tracks of future equipment procurement and to make a statement about its strategic orientation.

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My Comment: This is a tough one to comment on, and I do not envy what Secretary of Defense Gates and others had to do to come up with such a document. But from my point of view the bottom line is the following .... will we win our wars, and will we be secure in the future. On these two issues I have some concerns and worries.

For the past 8 years we have been pursuing an aggressive policy against Al Qaeda and its allies. Invading two countries, and conducting covert and (not so covert) operations in other countries. All of these actions have been predicated on the idea that we are in long term struggle that will take years .... if not decades .... to win. What is victory? .... the complete repudiation among the mass majority of Muslims on the principles and philosophy of Jihad as advocated by extremists like Bin laden and his Al Qaeda organization.

Unfortunately, this conflict has now cost us thousands of lives (almost 9,000 US lives if I include 9/11), hundreds of billions (if not trillions) in war costs and destruction of infrastructure, and U.S. political isolation and loss of credibility on the international scene. What is worse ..... the conflict still continues and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

It is with this continuous war environment that President Obama is now faced with .... and I am sure that after being in power for one year he now wishes to end it. The 2010 QDR is more of a means to complete the two wars that we have been fighting, with long term planning and the long war against Al Qaeda be put off at a later date. I am confident that this focus of energies and resources will change the dynamics, and I would not be surprised to see us leave Iraq by next year, and Afghanistan soon after.

Unfortunately .... I do not think Al Qaeda has the same vision .... and more importantly I do not think this approach will make us safe. My contacts in the intelligence community are now telling me that the financial supporters of Al Qaeda and their allies are now diverting their monies and resources from their losing theaters of war in Iraq and Afghanistan to supporting groups that want to attack us directly.

If true, this then explains why there has been a spike in terrorist attempts within the US, and worrisome chatter in Al Qaeda and jihadist chat rooms in the Middle East. Even the Brookings Institute .... a think tank with close ties to the Obama Administration are now voicing these same concerns.

It seems that Al Qaeda and their affiliates need war to justify their position within the Islamic community. Peace and prosperity would only undermine the impact of their message .... and worse .... undermine their legitimacy. Hence .... while we focus our energies on ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan .... Al Qaeda is now focusing its energies on attacking us from a different angle .... which in this case is the US homeland.