Toward Holistic Joint Force Structure Decisions

摘要

In the words of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, 'The United States, our allies, and our partners face a spectrum of challenges... We must balance strategic risk across the responses, making the best use of the tools at hand within the U.S. Government and among our international partners.' Examination of U.S. foreign policy indicates that the Middle East, and the radical extremist organizations that draw strength from the region, will continue to hold a preeminent position of relevancy. Despite the importance of the enduring struggle against terrorism and extremism, the Department of Defense is still challenged to balance strategic risks across the joint force. Service parochial perspectives continue to drive procurement, and hence, strategic decisions. It is the author's intent to provide justification for a holistic framework from which the U.S. joint force structure can be shaped, and that can form the basis of a grand strategy for the United States, particularly with regard to the Middle East. Arguably, this framework for military force structure decisions should be part of a wider whole-of-government approach to the spectrum of challenges the United States faces globally.