29 Nov 2001
Is Iraq Next In The Anti-Terror War?
By Paul Anderson, ERRI Analyst
The unexpected quickness of the military campaign in Afghanistan has suddenly brought into focus the next phase of the war on terrorism. Phase One is Afghanistan, but what country will be Phase Two? Will there be an attack on Iraq, or Yemen, or Somalia, or Sudan?
Make no mistake -- there will be a Phase Two. It may come as early as January. The only real issue is what form it will take. Will there be a military operation or will action be confined to diplomatic, financial and other pressure? No decisions have yet been made.
But if one listens carefully to the rhetoric from POTUS this past week, the United States -- it seems -- is beginning to lay the groundwork to warn the infamous Saddam Hussein that Iraq must allow weapons inspectors in or he would "find out" what action the United States would take.
Some of our allies are already concerned and are warning Washington not to strike. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Wednesday: "We should be particularly careful about a discussion about new targets in the Middle East. More could blow up in our faces there than any of us realize."
French Defense Minister Alain Richard added on Wednesday during a visit to Bulgaria that France did not believe that it was necessary to take military action against countries other than Afghanistan. But, then again, the French don't exactly have the greatest record of being tough on terrorists, do they?
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on the other hand, informed the House of Commons that Phase two would be to take action in a "deliberative and considered way" against international terrorism in all its forms. These words hinted of the British position -- which is that military action against Iraq, or any other country, would be justified only if there was clear evidence linking it to terrorism and that other methods of bringing it into line have failed.
So three major allies of the United States are either opposed to or reluctant to consider military action. Arab allies are also firmly against. Jordan said that the consequences would be "extremely dangerous."
The US President himself rejected a strike against Iraq soon after the 11 September attacks. He reportedly did so at a meeting in Camp David on the following Sunday, partly at the urging of the Secretary of State Colin Power, who felt that one war was enough for now. POTUS agreed to defer consideration of Iraq and others until after Afghanistan.
Iraq remains a crisis in waiting. It still is. But the pressure in Washington from some of the hawks has been maintained and the President, it appears, will at some stage be forced to take a decision. The Pentagon has prepared its bombing target lists. The argument for an attack centers on the claim that Iraq is involved in international terrorism and that it might be developing weapons of mass destruction.
Veteran ERRI risk analyst Steve Macko offered his prediction of what will
happen in Phase Two: "I'm probably sticking my neck out on this one," he
said, "I believe that by January, there will be US anti-terror operations on
bin Laden bases in either or both Yemen and Somalia. You will now see
Washington begin to build its new case against Saddam Hussein. The US will
begin to more and more make the case that Saddam has not complied with the
United Nations inspections and is a dangerous threat to the region and to
the rest of the world. And perhaps by June of next year, Saddam may be
looking for his own cave to hide in."
24 Sep
2001: WAR
ON TERROR-2001; What We Expect in The Coming "War on Terrorism"
(Includes numerous related references)
06 Sep 2001
MILITARY-ANTHRAX:
DIA Hopes to Grow Anthrax Variant to Test Vaccine
By Sgt. 1st Class Kathleen T. Rhem, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2001 -- The Defense Intelligence Agency hopes to grow
a Russian-engineered variant of anthrax to test the effectiveness of the
vaccine given to U.S. troops.
"We have a vaccine that works against ... all of the known anthrax
strains. What we want to do is make sure we are prepared for any
surprises," Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said Sept. 4.
A 1997 medical journal reported that Russia might have developed a
modified anthrax strain. Concerned about its possible use as a biological
weapon, DIA officials requested a sample from Russia, but to date have
received none, Clarke said in a Pentagon media briefing.
"Earlier this year, the DIA started to look into what it would take to get
the legal approvals, to get the interagency coordination, to do the
congressional briefings, to look into developing that strain so they could
test vaccines and they could see what we have to do to make sure we're
protected against it," Clarke said.
She stressed no scientific work has been done so far in developing this
strain and that the proposed work, codenamed Project Jefferson, would be
in compliance with the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.
Clarke said the convention allows work that is purely defensive in nature.
"It allows you to have small quantities of a known agent, limited
quantities of an agent if you want to study it for the purpose of
protecting people against that threat," she added.
Once the legal work is done, DIA intends to go forward with developing the
anthrax strain, Clarke said.
"We take the threat of the spread of biological and chemical warfare very,
very seriously. We have an obligation -- and it's an important obligation
-- to make sure we protect, first and foremost, the men and women in
uniform against those threats," she said. "So with all the
appropriate legal reviews, with all the appropriate interagency
coordination and congressional briefing, we plan to proceed."
Related Site of Interest:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2001/t09052001_t0904asd.html
04 September 2001
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
RE: ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING U.S. DEFENSES AGAINST ANTHRAX
US Department of State - International Information Programs
Washington File
Defense Department Report, September 4: Biological Warfare
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is studying the feasibility of
developing a new modified strain of anthrax to determine its potential
threat to the U.S. armed forces and the American people, says Victoria
Clarke, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.
In all instances, the United States has been in compliance with the 1972
Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the Pentagon spokeswoman said. The
United States, which unilaterally renounced use of biological and toxin
weapons in 1969, is a signatory to the BWC and has ratified the treaty.
"This administration has made clear: one of its priorities is to work
against the threat of biological warfare," Clarke said at a September 4
Defense Department briefing.
The purpose of the anthrax research is to ensure that the United States
possess an effective vaccine in the event a biological weapon is used
against U.S. armed forces, she said.
She said that in 1997 a professional scientific journal, "Vaccine,"
reported on a modified anthrax strain that the Russians were developing.
The United States has a vaccine against most known strains of anthrax, but
became concerned by the article and wanted to be prepared for any
potential surprises, she said.
In the early part of this year the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
started "to look into the feasibility -- in doing all the legal
consultations ... to look into how we could develop that modified anthrax
strain so we could test our vaccines against it," Clarke said.
However, she said there is no work going on now on the modified anthrax
vaccine. The BWC treaty does provide for some testing of a defensive
nature, she said.
"We've said pretty consistently that we're very concerned about the threat
of offensive biological weapons -- of the proliferation of materials and
technology that could enhance the proliferation of chemical and biological
warfare," she said.
"All of the work is consistent with U.S. treaty obligations. All of the
work is thoroughly briefed and [has] gone through a heavy consultation
process, both interagency and the appropriate legal reviews and the
appropriate congressional briefings," she said.
At a research facility in Nevada, the Pentagon wanted to determine how
easy it would be to obtain available materials commercially to make
biological weapons, but the facility tested only simulants -- which are
benign substances with characteristics similar to germs used in weapons,
she said. The research facility did not build biological weapons, she
said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov
04 Sep 2001
IRAQ:
Saddam's Poison Gas Kills 20; Training Accident
From the Electronic Telegraph
"At least 20 specially-trained Iraqi soldiers are dead and up to 200 have been admitted to hospital after taking part in a chemical weapons exercise that went wrong. News of the training accident emerged last week amid concerns that Saddam Hussein has rebuilt his chemical weapons arsenal. The soldiers, based in the Zaafarnia region south of Baghdad, were suffering from severe respiratory problems, according to intelligence received from Iraq."
A diplomat told the Telegraph: "They were training in the Al Suwayrah and Basmaya camps three months ago. We know that the accident has not stopped the training. Fresh soldiers were brought in soon after." The Al Suwayrah camp has been rebuilt since it was attacked in February by American and British aircraft.
Saddam last used chemical weapons against the Kurds in March 1988 at Halabjah causing thousands of injuries. In December 1998, American and British warplanes mounted Operation Desert Fox in an attempt to destroy Iraq's chemical weapons capability.
However, evidence surfaced last week that Iraqi scientists are working around the clock to rebuild the Iraqi leader's conventional weapons and self-defense arsenal as well as his chemical capability..."
Story continues at:
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/09/02/wiraq02.xml
17 August 2001
Western Wildfires Spark Guard/Reserve Assistance
By Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2001 – Sixteen Air National Guard and Air Force reserve aircraft and 250 Guardsmen have now been called up to help fight wildfires burning in 10 western states, DoD officials said. The Pentagon directed Aug. 16 that four more specially equipped firefighting planes and four support aircraft augment an eight-plane package and a liaison officer requested Aug. 14 by the National Interagency Fire Center, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley told reporters on Aug. 16.
The additional firefighting aircraft, two 302nd Air Wing Air Force Reserve planes from Colorado and two 145th Air Wing planes from the North Carolina Air National Guard, are slated to deploy to Boise, Idaho, said Pentagon spokesman Army Maj. Dan Stoneking.
The NIFC, headquartered in Boise, declared Aug. 16 that wildfire activity in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wyoming has reached a level five alert status, the most serious. At that point, according to the NIFC, military assistance is often called upon to augment severely stretched local resources. More than 500,000 acres are burning involving 42 fires across the western states, with almost 21,000 firefighters deployed.
The modular airborne firefighting systems, or MAFFS, are mounted on C-130 military aircraft and can disburse up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant -- or water -- on fires, Stoneking said. Each MAFFS aircraft, he added, requires a support aircraft. Quigley said two MAFFS-equipped planes from the 146th Air Wing of the California Air National Guard and two others from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Air Wing and four support aircraft were deployed Aug. 14 to Klammouth Falls, Ore.
"The National Guard is also providing about 250 Guard members from eight different states to assist firefighters in their efforts," Quigley noted. "At this point, all of these are state call-ups, called for by the governors of those respective states."
Quigley remarked that military support in fighting western wildfires "certainly could" expand in coming weeks. "I heard that the governor of Oregon is about ready to call up several hundred Oregon National Guardsmen…I would expect the numbers to grow in the days ahead, perhaps different types of equipment, as well," he said.
More than 4,000 service members from the Army, Marines, Air and Army National Guard conducted firefighting and support operations for western wildfires in response to requests from NIFC and as directed by the governors of several western states, according to DoD.
NOTE: This is a plain text version of a web page. You may also view the story at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2001/n08172001_200108174.html
A map of major fires currently being fought can be found at:
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/firemap.html
23 June 2001
WORLD-WIDE/MIDDLE-EAST
Threat Against US Troops In Persian Gulf; Ships Sent to Sea
An apparent threat in the Persian Gulf against Americans has the U.S. military on a heightened state of alert. A U.S. Marine Corps contingent in Jordan cut short its training session and returned to its ships, while the U.S. 5th Fleet sent its ships out of port in Bahrain. U.S. military forces throughout the Persian Gulf were put on alert Friday as a precaution, although, according to U.S. officials, the threat picked up by U.S. intelligence agencies was not specific about an intended target.
One official said the threat was against Americans but not necessarily the U.S. military. Another official said the intelligence warning suggested that a terrorist attack was imminent. The alert came a day after indictments were laid against 13 Saudi nationals and one Lebanese, charging them with killing 19 US servicemen at a military base in Saudi Arabia in 1996. US officials linked Iran to the 1996 bombing, an accusation that, as expected, Iran has strongly rejected.
NBC News reported on Friday there had been at least three threats of attacks on U.S. forces in the Gulf on 25 June, the fifth anniversary of the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers bombing which killed 19 U.S. servicemen. A number of extremist groups consider anniversaries of past events to be significant and often undertake other acts on those dates.
The US embassies in Senegal and Bahrain have been closed and the US State Department is expected to issue a worldwide travel advisory shortly, warning Americans traveling overseas to be on their guard. The DoS said: "The US government has learned that American citizens and interests abroad may be at increased risk of a terrorist action from extremist groups." US officials say the threat is non-specific, in other words they are not sure precisely who or what the target would be.
One official said it was possible the threat was related to Thursday's announcement of indictments for the 1996 bombing. And over the last two weeks there has also been heightened concern over a reported plot to bomb the US embassy in Yemen. Although the US has not identified the source of the threats, analysts say the US intelligence community suspects one source of any attack might be master terrorist Usama bin Laden. In the past few weeks, videotapes have been circulating in the Middle East which appear to show bin Laden threatening to attack US interests in the region.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Spanish authorities have arrested a suspected Islamic militant who may have links to bin Laden. The man, Mohammed Bensakhria, had been sought by Interpol and US authorities since last December.
The United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it was warning its citizens to be on guard. A spokesman for the embassy said that a message urging vigilance would be posted on the embassy website and pre-recorded phone lines on Saturday afternoon. The warden message said: "Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. Vehicles should not be left unattended, if at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times. In addition, U.S. government facilities have and will continue to temporarily close or suspend public services as necessary to review their security posture and ensure its adequacy." The U.S. embassy in Qatar said it was preparing a similar warning.
*****
12:00CDT - 22 June 2001
American Forces in Persian Gulf Go To Highest State of Alert; Possible Terrorist Threat
Chicago, IL (EmergencyNet News) -- EmergencyNet News is
receiving reports from both media and military sources that indicate that
all U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf area have been upgraded to "Threat
Condition Delta," as the result of what are being called "imminent and
credible terrorist threat." It is believed that all U. S. naval vessels in
the Gulf area are being scrambled and sent to sea as the result of the
alert. Few other officials details are currently available, but
EmergencyNet News will bring you additional details as they become
available...
22 June 2001
WASHINGTON, DC:
SecDef Questions Military Doctrine
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States may have to
abandon its strategy of being prepared to fight two major wars at the same
time. Rumsfeld told a Senate committee in Washington that no decision had
been taken to change the strategy adopted a decade ago during the Gulf War.
But he suggested this approach might be "out of date." Rumsfeld said US
forces were under-funded and over-used and needed to develop a more flexible
approach to long-term threats.
02 June 2001
CHINA
Chinese Train For Taiwan Invasion??
State-run media said at least 10,000 troops have massed along the southeast coast of China in preparation for large-scale military exercises aimed at practicing an attack on Taiwan. The exercise, code named "Liberation One," is the biggest since Taiwan's pro-independence president, Chen Shui-bian, came to power a year ago. It will include a mock invasion of a Taiwanese island and an attack on an aircraft carrier.
The troops have massed on Dongshan Island, a large peninsular that sticks out into the Taiwan strait. China is reportedly throwing much of its most sophisticated weaponry into the exercise, including navy missile destroyers and submarines newly purchased from Russia. The message the Chinese appear to be sending is -- China has the capability to attack Taiwan, and the ability to hit the United States too if they are "foolish enough" to intervene in a conflict over Taiwan with one of their aircraft carrier battle groups.
Beijing has been deeply angered by Washington's decision
six weeks ago to sell Taiwan sophisticated new weapon systems to help it
defend itself against Chinese attack. But military analysts say they are
doubtful that these military exercises are a direct response to the
weapons sales. More likely they are part of a long-term strategy by the
Chinese to build a modern military force capable of blockading the Taiwan
Strait and of challenging the might of the US Pacific Fleet...
14:00CDT - 08 May 2001
FEMA/V.P. Cheney To Explore Homeland Defense
Washington, DC (EmergencyNet News) -- Vice President Dick Cheney said that he will head a task force on "homeland defense" to assess changing threats to the United States and how to prepare for potential man-made disasters of the future. Two more days of hearing are scheduled and testimony from several of the 46 government agencies who have some responsibility for a response to terrorist incidents is expected.
Local and state officials, and a number of
private "think-tanks," including the Emergency Response & Research
Institute (ERRI -- the parent of this website) have, in the past,
expressed their concerns about coordination, communications, and
cooperation between various agencies, should a major major terrorist event
occur in CONUS (Continental United States).
1> Click here for
a number of ERRI/EmergencyNet News articles concerning the current state
of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Chemical, Biological, Nuclear)
preparedness in the U.S.A.
2> Click here to review the ERRI Counter-Terrorism Page
Watch this space for a major upcoming "White
Paper" containing some recommendations from ERRI analysts concerning
better overall anti- and counter-terrorism coordination...
10 May 2001
RUSSIA:
Fire Strikes Russian Military Satellite Network
According to officials, contact with four military satellites has been lost after a fire broke out in the command center of the Defense Ministry's space program. But military leaders insisted that the overall satellite control system was working normally. The commander of the armed forces' space division Anatoly Perminov said steps were being taken to restore contact with the satellites, possibly from another command post.
Firefighters spent hours trying to put out the blaze. The blaze was reportedly started by an electrical short-circuit and spread through communications networks on three floors of the building, near the town of Serpukhov, 120 miles southwest of Moscow. There were no reports of injuries.
Russian Space Forces Commander Anatoly Perminov said all secret documents, computer programs, weapons and equipment were saved from the burning relay station. The fire broke out at 02:20 hours (local time), engulfing several floors of the building near the Kaluga region. According to the Interfax news agency, firefighters were still working to bring the blaze under control after seven hours.
The headquarters is responsible for both military and
commercial satellite launches. Analysts say that since the collapse of the
Soviet Union, a lack of funds has forced the Russian military to continue
using old equipment long beyond its intended lifespan. Experts have warned
that Russia's decaying satellite systems could cause major problems,
potentially giving false alerts about incoming missile attacks.
17:00CDT - 01 May 2001
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of
Defense
No. 190-01
IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 1, 2001
DEPUTY SECRETARY WOLFOWITZ STATEMENT ON BERETS
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz released the
following http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2001/d20010501beret.pdf
statement today concerning berets:
"The Army Chief of Staff has determined that U.S.
troops shall not wear berets made in China or berets made with Chinese
content. Therefore, I direct the Army and the Defense Logistics Agency to
take appropriate action to recall previously distributed berets and
dispose of the stock."
[EmergencyNet Editorial Comment: Three Cheers For
Dpty. Sec. Def. Wolfowitz. It's about time this kind of signal was
sent...]
14 Apr 2001
MID-EAST/WASHINGTON, DC:
Franks Lists Threats Facing Central Command
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 13, 2001 -- While the Persian Gulf is the crucial area for U.S. Central Command, the command has much more on its plate, said Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks. Franks, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, said the command stands ready to protect American vital interests throughout the Central Command area of responsibility.
"The volatility of our region requires that U.S. CENTCOM remain adaptable and agile," Franks said. "Without a large footprint in the region, we must be truly 'deployable.' Responsive command, control, and communications during peace, crisis, and conflict will remain key to our ability to accomplish the mission.
The key to the Central Command area is to maintain uninterrupted access to energy resources. The Persian Gulf region contains roughly 68 percent of the world's known oil and natural gas reserves -- "more than 40 percent of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz," Franks said.
"And so, one of our responsibilities -- in fact, one of our objectives -- is to maintain access to these energy resources at the same time that we maintain access to markets in the region," he remarked.
Iraq, of course, is the main disturber of the peace in the region. CENTCOM maintains the no-fly zone over the southern third of that country. In addition, the command conducts maritime intercept operations in the northern Arabian Gulf. These operations seek to stop Saddam Hussein from smuggling oil and using the revenue gained to reconstitute his weapons of mass destruction or to improve his conventional capabilities.
But there is more to CENTCOM than containing Hussein, Franks continued. The command's area of responsibility encompasses 25 nations in an area about twice the size of the continental United States.
"It includes the northern Red Sea area, the countries of Egypt and Jordan. It includes the Horn of Africa and East Africa; the Arabian Peninsula, certainly; and South Asia from Pakistan up into Central Asia as far as Kazakhstan," Franks said.
Iran is another concern, he said. Franks called Iran an "enigma" during his testimony. He said Iranian President Mohammed Khatami has indicated a willingness to improve ties with the West and loosen the fundamentalist restrictions on the Iranian people, but his hands are tied. "(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-) Khamenei and the ruling conservatives have clearly demonstrated that they will not accept change, nor will they share the principal elements of state power with an increasingly restless population," Franks said. In spite of the internal discord, Iran continues to improve its conventional and unconventional military capabilities, he said.
"Tehran's ability to interdict the Strait of Hormuz with air, surface and sub-surface naval units, as well as mines and missiles remains a concern," Franks told the lawmakers. "Additionally, Iran's asymmetrical capabilities are becoming more robust."
He said these capabilities include high-speed attack patrol ships, anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and hardened facilities for surface-to-surface missiles and command and control. But the main concerns, he noted, are Iran's weapons of mass destruction program and large medium-range ballistic missile program.
"Although President Khatami is attempting to change Iran's image, sustained hostility of conservative hard-liners is evident as we see continued support of terrorism aimed at derailing efforts for peace between Israel and the Palestinians," he said.
The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence is of continuing concern in the region, Franks said. In the Persian Gulf, violence has increased internal pressures on moderate Arab governments that must balance responses to public opinion with the value placed on their relationships with the West, he said.
"If the (Arabian) Peninsula states begin to distance themselves from the United States, their inability to face the dual threats of Iran and Iraq will leave them vulnerable to intimidation by these aggressive powers," Franks said.
The October attack on the destroyer USS Cole highlights the threat of terrorism in the region. Franks said the threat remains high and is becoming more sophisticated. "Despite our counter-terrorism successes over the past year, including the disruption of terrorist cells in Jordan and Kuwait, extremist groups continue to recruit, train and conduct operations," he said.
One trend is unprecedented cooperation between known and obscure groups. "This cooperation includes moving people and materials, providing safe havens and money and training new recruits," he said. "The trend is especially disturbing as known organizations gain plausible deniability for operations, while the obscure groups achieve an increased capability from training and financial support."
He said terrorist organizations continue to seek larger explosive devices, more lethal tactics and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. He said this trend points to a more significant problem in the future.
"In addition to the use of unconventional weapons, the
potential for terrorists to regard unconventional targets (civilians and
civilian infrastructure) as practical options for attack seems likely,"
Franks said. "As terrorist networks improve their ability to operate
within the global communications environment, we see increased capability to
support recruitment, conduct fund-raising, and direct sub-elements worldwide.
The complex terrorist threat we face today is less predictable and potentially
much more dangerous than we have seen in the past."
Click here to review..."Crisis in Macedonia:
Summary and Chronology of EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia -- 27 Feb 2001 to 29 Mar
2001" (Last updated 29 Mar 2001)
30 Mar
2001: Series of EmergencyNet News "Real-Time" Reports
Concerning the Arrest of Former Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic: 30 Mar to 01 Apr 2001 (updated 09:00CDT
- 01 Apr 01)
29 Mar 2001
NEW YORK
CITY/GEORGIA:
Report Says 3rd Division Not Battle-Ready...
The
New York Times was reporting on Thursday that one of the US Army's ten
active divisions has been downgraded to the second-lowest level of battle
readiness due to a lack of training and personnel. Citing unidentified Pentagon
officials, the newspaper said the 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort
Stewart, Georgia, was downgraded because thousands of its soldiers have missed
battle-readiness training while stationed overseas. Nearly 4,000 troops from the
division have been serving as peace-keepers in Bosnia since October.
24 Mar 2001
US Defense Strategy To Shift To Asia
According to the Washington Post, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has outlined proposals to shift US defense strategy away from Europe to the Pacific. The plans outlined to POTUS by Rumsfeld would probably see the emphasis on large aircraft carriers dropped and a move towards long range stealth bombers. US officials have confirmed reports which indicated that the current review of defense policy would lead to "dramatic reforms in armed forces strategy and weaponry." The moves in strategy were said to be discussed at a meeting at the White House earlier this week.
Rumsfeld has apparently accepted this new policy, though no final decisions have yet been reached, pending a strategic review that is still underway at the Pentagon.. Rumsfeld is thought to have reported to the President that there should be a shift in policy from Europe to Asia, where China is seen as a growing threat compared to the decreasing danger posed by Russia. The review is also understood to mark a shift away from the longstanding policy that the military must be able to fight two major wars in different theaters simultaneously. Click here to see our 1997 article "Strategic Knowledge; Preventing the Bombing of the Bridge to the 21st Century," which advocates consideration of many of the same issues...
Donald H. Rumsfeld Sworn in as SecDef