As the Pentagon prepares to unveil its Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget and the outcome of an extensive defence review, the US Army's top officer said he is pleased that both point to a continued focus on current conflicts.rn"I am quite satisfied with the outcomes of both the QDR [Quadrennial Defense Review] and the FY11 budget," Chief of Staff General George Casey said on 14 January during an annual speech addressing the army's activities and priorities for the coming year.rnThe QDR - set to be released in early February - is a congressionally mandated examination of military capabilities and programmes that sets a long-termrncourse forthe overall Department of Defense strategy. Gen Casey believes the findings of the QDR reflect his view of the strategic environment as including a "long-term ideological struggle against a global terrorist network". He has often described the military as operating in an "era of persistent conflict" in which it must always be ready to participate in a full spectrum of operations that range from combat to stability missions. The review, Gen Casey said, lays out a need for "flexible and adaptable forces" to meet the challenges of persistent conflict and also recognises a necessity for training and equipping troops for current operations.
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