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Global Posture
"The world has changed a great deal, and our posture must change with it for the sake of our
military families, for the sake of our taxpayers, and so we can be more effective at projecting
our strength and spreading freedom and peace." President George W. Bush

Readjustment of American Forces
Will Increase Military Capabilities
    WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2004 – The global posture of American troops is part and parcel of the transformation of the U.S. military, said the Joint Staff's deputy director for strategy and policy.
Navy Rear Adm. Richard Hunt said a global readjustment of American forces is overdue and, with other changes, will increase U.S. military capabilities with fewer forces. Story
Reduction Doesn't Lessen
U.S. Commitment to Europe
    WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2004 – A drop in the number of U.S. forces in Europe does not mean any lessening in U.S. commitment to the continent, the commander of U.S. European Command said today.
      The United States will realign its forces in Europe "to meet the family of threats that face us in a way that is more suitable," said Marine Gen. Jim Jones.
     U.S. forces will become more expeditionary, more available and quicker, the general said. Story
Rumsfeld Says Future Calls
For 'More Agile, Efficient Force'
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld answers questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 23, 2004. Rumsfeld was at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., to give testimony on the Global Posture Review of United States military forces. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bowman    WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2004 – If approved, the U.S. military will bring back 70,000 servicemembers and 100,000 family members and DoD civilians from bases overseas, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
    The transfer is part of the proposed changes to the U.S. military's global posture. Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers discussed the changes.Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, answers questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee while in Washington D.C on Sept. 23, 2004. Myers was at the Hart Senate Office Building to give testimony on the Global Posture Review of U.S. military forces. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bowman
    Rumsfeld put the restructuring in perspective for the senators. He said rearranging U.S. global posture is an integral part of "undertakings essential to transforming our military into a more agile and efficient force." Story
Prepared Testimony
Marine Gen. Jones Says Changes
To U.S. Posture Will Strengthen Europe
Marine Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, gives his opening remarks before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept 23, 2004. Jones was at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., to give testimony on the Global Posture Review of United States military forces. Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bowman    WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2004 — The changes contemplated to the U.S. military posture in Europe will help strengthen the North Atlantic alliance and prepare the American military for the missions of the 21st century, the U.S. European Command chief said Sept. 23.
     Marine Gen. James Jones told the Senate Armed Services Committee that U.S. "proposals will increase the strategic effect of our forces who are assigned to operate on the European and African continents and in their contiguous waters." Story
In Korea, Think Capabilities, Not Numbers, Army Gen. LaPorte Says
Army Gen. Leon J. LaPorte appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 23 to testify on the global posture review of the U.S. military. Photo by Master James M. Bowman, USAF      WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2004 – People have to stop thinking of capabilities solely in terms of numbers, the commander of all U.S. forces in Korea said.
     Army Gen. Leon J. Laporte, the commander of Combined Forces Command, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sept. 23 that they need to look at the U.S. military posture in Korea in terms of capabilities rather than numbers. Story
U.S., Republic of Korea Reach
Agreement on Troop Redeployment
    WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2004 – The Department of Defense announced today that after several months of close consultations, the United States and the Republic of Korea have reached final agreement regarding the June 2004 U.S. proposal to redeploy 12,500 U.S. troops from Korea. 
     Throughout these consultations, the United States has made clear that it remains committed to the defense of the Republic of Korea and to the security and stability of the region. Release
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld answers questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee while in Washington D.C on Sept. 23, 2004. Secretary Rumsfeld was at the Hart Senate Office Building to give testimony on the Global Posture Review of U.S. military forces. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bowman
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (center), accompanied by top service officers, answers questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee while in Washington D.C on Sept. 23, 2004. Secretary Rumsfeld was at the Hart Senate Office Building to give testimony on the Global Posture Review of U.S. military forces. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James M. Bowman
EDITORIAL
Positioning U.S. Forces for the 21st Century
By Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
    "America is the world’s preeminent military power because its leaders have properly challenged assumptions and the status quo, invested in and made use of new technologies, and abandoned old certainties and strategies when freedom’s defense required it. And we must continue to do so." Full Text
Adm. Fargo Details
Pacific Command Posture Plan
Photo: Adm. Thomas B. Fargo     WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2004 – Strengthening and rebalancing U.S. forces in the Pacific are vital to peace in the region, said Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command.
    New threats that have no respect for national boundaries call for a regional approach to problems, the admiral told the Senate Armed Service Committee Sept. 23. "The new threat context demands profound and enduring improvements in the way we command, equip, employ and station our forces," Fargo said. Story
• Transforming U.S. Global Defense Posture
• Bush Announces Global Posture Changes Over Next Decade
• Policymakers 'Plan to be Surprised' in New Global Posture
• Defense Details Global Posture Realignment Process
• Officials Discuss Global Posture Process
 Myers: No Final Decision Yet on U.S. Posture in Germany
• Fewer Numbers Don't Mean Less Capability, Rumsfeld Says
• U.S. Global Posture Realignment Process Will Take Time
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