How Will New War Change Defense Policies?

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2001
• Author: Stone, Ben,Thompson, Steve
• Published date: 01 November 2001
• Author: Stone, Ben

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, the urgency of transforming U.S. forces to prepare for 21st century warfare became palpable. Indeed, the assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, in many ways, changed the rules of war, and the president responded with a focused, resolute call-to-arms to the American people, informing them that fighting terrorism will not be a short-term struggle.

For today's generation of young adults, the war on terrorists is likely to be the rough equivalent of what the Cold War was for "baby-boomers." But it will be characterized by a country united in outrage and buttressed with worldwide support that has only strengthened as a result of these attacks.

At press time, much was unknown. How would retaliation rake place? How would the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the budgets for 2002 and 2003 be affected? How would the new Office of Homeland Security work with the Defense Department? And how would all of this affect the defense industry?

Will the administration continue to support another round of base closures? Will the new focus on homeland defense undercut the two-war strategy? Should we lift the historic ban on the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement? Are we prepared to surge the production capacities of...