Reconstitution: A Weak Link in U.S. Security

摘要

The National Security Strategy has identified four elements critical to thefuture security of the country: strategic deterrence and defense, forward presence, crisis response, and reconstitution. The purpose of this study is to focus on reconstitution which, in light of current and projected defense cuts, is vitally important in the event the nation must again face a global challenger. Unfortunately, over the long run, reconstitution is unlikely to be able to provide sufficient capabilities, within the timeframe promised, in order to either deter or defend; time is the issue. The reasons for this are two-fold: First, reconstitution bets on the availability of early warning followed by decisive political action, well in advance of any potential conflict. This assumption is necessary to provide the long leadtimes--literally years--required to produce modern high tech weapons of war. The problem is this assumption has no historical credibility; America has, politically, never been able or willing to prepare for war during peace. The United States' late entries into World Wars I and II were not flukes, since the political and economic structure of the country makes it difficult, if not impossible, to do otherwise, in the absence of direct enemy attacks. Second, reconstitution promises a robust industrial base with the capability to quickly produce and sustain large scale operations. Yet, even now, this base is fragmenting as thousands of contractors and subcontractors flee the defense business.