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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #42, 02 August 2007.
Fiscal realities and public opinion may compel a cut in US defense spending. The memo outlines an option to save $60+ billion over the next five years by reducing fighter aircraft and aircraft carrier fleets.
Also see
Unified Security Budget for the United States, 2008, Foreign Policy in Focus and the Center for Defense Information, April 2007. Proposal re-balances defense, homeland security, and international affairs expenditures. PDA is a member of report's task force.
Dissuading China and Fighting the 'Long War', World Policy Journal. The 2006 US Defense Review advanced two new strategic vectors for the US armed forces - one targets a putative "global Islamic insurgency"; the other puts America on a collison course with China.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Congressional Withdrawal Plans, Iraqi Permanent Bases, More Ground Troops
Issue 4 of Defense Analysis Bulletin, by Bipasha Ray, 01 May 2007
Congressional "withdrawal" plans only call for partial withdrawal from Iraq. At least 40,000 to 60,000 troops would have remain behind to train Iraqi forces, battle terrorists and protect American "interests." This brings up the unresolved issue of permanent bases. Does an increase in ground forces mean that the United States plans to be in Iraq indefinitely, and is Iraq prelude to building a larger military?
Read all back issues of the Defense Analysis Bulletin here.
Congressional "withdrawal" plans only call for partial withdrawal from Iraq. At least 40,000 to 60,000 troops would have remain behind to train Iraqi forces, battle terrorists and protect American "interests." This brings up the unresolved issue of permanent bases. Does an increase in ground forces mean that the United States plans to be in Iraq indefinitely, and is Iraq prelude to building a larger military?
Read all back issues of the Defense Analysis Bulletin here.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
America Speaks Out: Is the United States spending too much on defense?
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #41, 26 March 2007.
Today, the United States is responsible for half of total world military spending. A recent Gallup poll shows that Americans are beginning to have second thoughts.
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #41, 26 March 2007.
Today, the United States is responsible for half of total world military spending. A recent Gallup poll shows that Americans are beginning to have second thoughts.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Somalia, Horn of Africa, Results and Motivations of Terrorism
Issue 3 of Defense Analysis Bulletin, by Bipasha Ray, 07 March 2007
U.S. aid to Somali warlords could be "misguided." Are American counterterrorism and military policies in the Horn of Africa destabilizing the region? An examination of the results and motivations of terrorism.
Read all back issues of the Defense Analysis Bulletin here.
U.S. aid to Somali warlords could be "misguided." Are American counterterrorism and military policies in the Horn of Africa destabilizing the region? An examination of the results and motivations of terrorism.
Read all back issues of the Defense Analysis Bulletin here.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Confronting Iran
Confronting Iran: Critical perspectives on the current crisis, its origins, and implications
A PDA compilation, February 2007.
More than 100 articles, analyses and resources addressing the nuclear crisis and other aspects of the US-Iran conflict as well as strategic issues.
A PDA compilation, February 2007.
More than 100 articles, analyses and resources addressing the nuclear crisis and other aspects of the US-Iran conflict as well as strategic issues.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Experts give poor grades to expected defense budget proposal
By Bipasha Ray, Project on Defense Alternatives
from Defense Analysis Bulletin #2, 01 February 2007
Washington, DC -- The expected $470 billion defense budget for fiscal 2008 to be released Feb. 5 will fall short of requirements, yet continue to be packed with pork despite recent reforms, according to defense experts at a briefing on Thursday.
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from Defense Analysis Bulletin #2, 01 February 2007
Washington, DC -- The expected $470 billion defense budget for fiscal 2008 to be released Feb. 5 will fall short of requirements, yet continue to be packed with pork despite recent reforms, according to defense experts at a briefing on Thursday.
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Thursday, January 25, 2007
Defense Analysis Bulletin #1
A series of mini-reviews of selected studies of interest
Edited by Bipasha Ray
In this inaugural issue: Has U.S. aid to Afghan security forces improved its human rights record? Also discusses whether high-ranking Taliban should be brought into the fold of governance; civilian casualties in US/NATO air strikes in Afghanistan; and the potential spillover from the Iraqi civil war which could affect U.S. basing operations especially in the small Persian Gulf countries, like Bahrain.
Edited by Bipasha Ray
In this inaugural issue: Has U.S. aid to Afghan security forces improved its human rights record? Also discusses whether high-ranking Taliban should be brought into the fold of governance; civilian casualties in US/NATO air strikes in Afghanistan; and the potential spillover from the Iraqi civil war which could affect U.S. basing operations especially in the small Persian Gulf countries, like Bahrain.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Resolving Iraq: Progress depends on a short timeline for US troop withdrawal
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #40, 18 January 2007.
The memo argues that the large-scale US military presence in Iraq makes sustainable progress toward peace and stability there impossible. It advances an alternative approach to stabilizing Iraq that hinges on a short timeline for US troop withdrawal and a new international effort including Iraq’s neighbors.
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #40, 18 January 2007.
The memo argues that the large-scale US military presence in Iraq makes sustainable progress toward peace and stability there impossible. It advances an alternative approach to stabilizing Iraq that hinges on a short timeline for US troop withdrawal and a new international effort including Iraq’s neighbors.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
More troops for Iraq? Time to just say "No"
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #39, 09 January 2007.
There is no reason to believe that a marginal increase in the US troop presence in Iraq will turn the tide there. The memo reviews relevant data on troop strength, insurgent activity, and Iraqi public opinion. It traces America's troubles in Iraq to the nature of the mission, which it concludes is founded on strategic error.
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By Carl Conetta, PDA Briefing Memo #39, 09 January 2007.
There is no reason to believe that a marginal increase in the US troop presence in Iraq will turn the tide there. The memo reviews relevant data on troop strength, insurgent activity, and Iraqi public opinion. It traces America's troubles in Iraq to the nature of the mission, which it concludes is founded on strategic error.
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