MESSAGE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
The world today is one that is constantly evolving with new security challenges. The threat of a nuclear holocaust has been greatly diminished, but the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction threatens our interests, our forces, and even our homeland. Hostile regimes, instability, and ethnic tensions threaten American interests in key regions. Terrorism, international organized crime, and drug trafficking remain threats to our national interests and to peace and stability. Finally, as recent history clearly reminds us, new dangers can arise suddenly and unpredictably.
Even as our security picture evolves, the world is undergoing unprecedented economic, political, and technological change -- at a pace that is sometimes breathtaking. These changes are binding our destiny ever more closely to that of our allies and economic partners around the world. This works to our advantage as we seek to promote free markets and principles of democracy, but it also increases the degree to which we are affected by developments overseas. We should not -- and cannot -- insulate ourselves from the forces that are sweeping the globe.
The Department of Defense is committed to pursuing national security policies designed not merely to react to the changing environment, but also to shape the environment in ways that are favorable to our interests -- to shift our focus from dealing with the end of one era toward shaping the next one.
In Europe, we have a real opportunity to finally overcome centuries of division that in the 20th century culminated in two world wars and a cold war. We need to seize this opportunity by moving forward with NATO enlargement, strengthening and expanding the Partnership for Peace, and continuing to forge a new pragmatic partnership with Russia designed to increase our bilateral cooperation and decrease the potential nuclear threat.
In the Asia-Pacific region, we must remain present and engaged to ensure the region's continued stability, which has helped to fuel regional economic growth and to create opportunities for American businesses and workers. We need to deter the near-term threat from North Korea, while over the long term shape the security environment to prevent threats that could arise from rivalry among major regional powers.
In Southwest Asia, particularly in the Persian Gulf region, we need to continue to protect our interests, especially the energy resources that remain critical to the world economy.
In the Western Hemisphere, we need to seize the unique opportunity presented by the changing strategic environment -- the current burgeoning of democracy and open markets -- and seek to advance the frontiers of military-to-military engagement and humanitarian assistance.
Finally, the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missile technologies presents an increasing threat to Americans in their homes and at their workplaces. In conjunction with our allies, we must pursue programs to thwart these threats.
Getting it right on these key components on the international security agenda depends not only on pursuing the proper policies, but backing up those policies with military strength. Today, the United States has the finest military in the nation's history, the finest the world has ever seen. We intend to keep our military that way by focusing on the Department's top priorities:
The defense programs described in this report represent a good faith effort to develop a proper match of strategy and resources. But we are under no illusions. The reductions of recent years have exhausted the easy options. The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) -- which is taking a top-to-bottom look at the security threats and our future security needs -- is likely to present difficult choices about apportioning resources for the future. Modernization is one of the most important areas being analyzed in the QDR. The QDR will focus both on the content of modernization and on potential sources for budget savings so that validated programs can be sufficiently funded.
In his book, On the Origins of War, historian Donald Kagan writes, "In the modern world . . . the sense that peace is natural and war an aberration . . . has prevented the efforts needed to preserve the peace." Maintaining a strong, ready, and capable military is a key to preserving peace. The Department of Defense programs and objectives will keep us on track to accomplish this. The challenge is not an easy one, but with the resources our nation possesses in its technology, in its leadership, and in the men and women of its armed forces, we will meet the challenge now and into the 21st century. Each element of the defense program described in this report is aimed at meeting this challenge.
/signed/
William S. Cohen
