America's Defense Needs

Fifteen years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. military is still buying weapons systems designed for Cold War battlefields in Central Europe. The escalating costs of defense systems combined with an increasingly unpopular and exceedingly expensive war in Iraq creates an environment where the United States cannot afford the personnel or equipment it needs for future operations. These shifting realities require a fresh look at planning for America's defense needs in the twenty first century.