SINCE the Pentagon was directed to save some $450 billion over 10 years, and perhaps far more, much of the conversation in Washington has turned to how America can reduce its overseas commitments. In an interview on Nov. 4, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta mentioned, among other possibilities, closing bases and cutting American troops in Europe. But just a few weeks ago, in Asia, he promised that the United States would maintain its forces in the Pacific. How can we downsize our military and sustain key commitments abroad?
¶One answer is that downsizing must be based on innovation and efficiency, not retrenchment or disengagement. Nor — as many argue that the era of counterinsurgency is ending and ground forces must be scaled down — can all these cuts be made to the Army.Cuts must be spread among all four military services. The Navy, in particular, could come up with about a quarter of the savings.
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