The rise of a 鈥渘ew center of power鈥� throughout the globe means 鈥渁 world that is growing more volatile, more unpredictable and, in some instances, more threatening to the United States," Secretary Hagel said.
However, he stresses that this does not mean that the Department of Defense sees any more ground wars in its future, particularly as it wraps up America鈥檚 longest war in Afghanistan.
鈥淲e are no longer sizing the military to conduct long and large stability operations,鈥� he added, in a briefing with Pentagon reporters.
But 鈥渘o more land wars鈥� is a mantra that the military has mistakenly trotted out before, most notably after World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, some critics warn. The latest round of cuts mean that 鈥渨e won鈥檛 be ready for the next鈥� war, says Rep. Buck McKeon (R) of California, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. After World War II, 鈥淲e took the largest, strongest Army and Navy and we totally destroyed it,鈥� he warns. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e setting ourselves up for the same thing?鈥�
