From left, Marine Gen. James Jones, commander of European
Command; Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of Pacific
Command; and Army Gen. Leon LaPorte, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, appear
before the Senate Armed Services Committee to testify on global posture Sept
23. Photo by Master Sgt. James M. Bowman, USAF
(Click photo for screen-
resolution image); high-resolution
image available. |
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.
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."
The secretary said it is part and parcel with transformation of the military
along with increasing the joint capabilities, the lethality and the agility of
the military. Another part of this transformation is the rebalancing between
active and reserve forces, he said.
From a basing point of view, Rumsfeld said, little has changed for the last 50
years. "It's as if, for example, Germany is still bracing for a Soviet tank
invasion across the north German plain," he said.
In South Korea, U.S. troops are based in the same camps and locations as they
were when the armistice was designed in 1953, Myers said.
Rumsfeld said U.S. troops should be "in places where they're wanted, places
where they are welcomed and where they're needed."
In some areas – such as Okinawa, Japan, or Seoul, South Korea – U.S. forces
become an irritant to local governments, Rumsfeld said.
At the same time, the United States has built new relationships with countries
involved in the global war on terror, the secretary said. He said the United
States has worked well with the countries of Central Asia and developed strong
partnerships with the countries of Eastern Europe.
"We believe it makes sense to work out arrangements with countries that are
interested in the presence of the U.S. and which are in closer proximity to the
regions of the world where our troops are more likely to be needed in the
future," Rumsfeld pointed out.
American troops also should be in places from which they can deploy. U.S.
troops in Europe that deployed to Iraq, ended up taking the long way around
when Austria denied permission to cross its territory, for example. "U.S.
soldiers may be called to a variety of locations to engage extremists on short
notice we need to be able to deploy them to trouble spots quickly," he said.
The readjustment also must take advantage of the new capabilities of the U.S.
military. "In this century we are shifting away from a tendency to equate sheer
numbers of things – troops, bombs, tanks – with capability," Rumsfeld said.
Precision bombs allow one aircraft to kill a number of targets, rather than the
old paradigm of a number of planes dropping dumb bombs to take out one target.
Rumsfeld said the main operating bases will be consolidated, but retained. "In
Asia our idea is built on the current ground air and naval access to overcome
vast distances, while bringing forward other assets to the region," he said.
In Europe, the United States will deploy more flexible and agile ground forces
and beefed up special operations forces. They will deploy to other regions as
needed, he indicated.
"In the broader Middle East we propose to maintain what we call warm facilities
for rotational forces and contingency purposes," the secretary said. The United
States will build on the cooperation and access provided by host nations during
Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
"In Africa and the western hemisphere, we envision a diverse array of smaller
cooperative security locations for security access," he said.
Both Rumsfeld and Myers said the moves will also make life easier for
servicemembers and their families. Once in place, deployments should be shorter
and less frequent. Families should move less during a military career.
"This plan is in the best interest of national security and our troops," Myers
said. "This plan will leave us better positioned to engage with our allies and
promote regional stability and better positioned to prevail in combat when war
cannot be prevented."
Biographies:
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B.
Myers
Related Articles:
Fewer Troops Won't Reduce
Deterrence in South Korea, Rumsfeld Says
U.S. Realigning, Redeploying
Military Forces in South Korea
Global Posture Realignment to
Take Place Over Time
 | Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld responds to questions from
the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill on Sept. 23. The secretary
was at the Hart Senate Office Building to give testimony on the global posture
review of U.S. military forces. Photo by Master Sgt. James M. Bowman, USAF
|
 | High resolution photo
|
 | Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff answers questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol
Hill on Sept. 23. Myers was at the Hart Senate Office Building to testify on
the global posture review of U.S. military forces. Photo by Master Sgt. James
M. Bowman, USAF
|
 | High resolution photo
|
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