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Live and Learn: Iraq War Reveals Weaknesses of a Longstanding Strategy

As part of a review required by Congress, the Pentagon is reconsidering a long-established defense strategy: that the U.S. be prepared to fight two wars at once.

The two-war policy makes available enough soldiers and weapons to mount two major attacks at the same time. Theoretically, the 2003 invasion of Iraq utilized only half of the military’s resources, while the other half were kept available for the possibility of a second, simultaneous invasion.

But as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, a study petitioned by Congress every four years, that tactic is being reassessed. Top military officials are deliberating the idea of reducing the nation’s capabilities to one major attack and concentrating remaining resources on antiterrorism efforts.

Iraq is making the Pentagon rethink

The current situation in Iraq - costing $5 billion a month and requiring 138,000 troops - has caused the Pentagon to pause and rethink its groundwork. The flows of resources to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as global counterterrorism efforts have made the U.S. less capable of sustaining two wars at once.

The New York Times reports that General Richard B. Meyers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed Congress in a classified risk assessment that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have limited the military’s ability to handle other armed conflicts. With tensions looming between the U.S. and North Korea and the U.S. and Iran, the consequences of being overstretched could be profound.

The situation in Iraq also calls into question our very understanding of war. Currently, America’s effort in Iraq is neither conventional warfare nor simple peacekeeping. It is somewhere in between, requiring the number of troops to remain high, while the need for submarines and fighter jets is quite low.

So, the Pentagon’s senior planners may suggest a change in the way America understands and plans its defense. The Quadrennial Defense Review will be completed in early 2006, and submitted to Congress with the Bush administration’s budget request.

How might the U.S. military change?

Analysts suggest that the Pentagon may want to focus more on counterterrorism and domestic defense, which would change the shape and size of the military.

The change in focus could lead to fewer large, high-tech weapons like warplanes and instead require more language and intelligence specialists. A more mobile, agile military may be needed, resulting in a greater emphasis on Special Operations forces.

Do you think that the Pentagon should change its strategy to reflect the changing face of warfare? Or, do you think we should adhere to the longstanding two-war policy? Would shifting our military strategy make the U.S. more vulnerable? Or, would it be more of a risk not to make changes?

What do you think?

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Update Posted on: 7/8/2005