08 January 2012

Editorial: Deterrence, Not Containment

By Harry Kazianis

With last year’s diplomatic “pivot” to the Pacific now seemingly in full swing, the United States declared the next phase of its grand shift into the Asia-Pacific.
President Barack Obama, during the first press conference to be held by a U.S. president at the Pentagon, detailed America’s shift to a leaner and more cost efficient U.S. military. Such a shift, with exact details to be released  in the coming defense budget, will cut U.S. combat troop numbers while investing in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) and cyber-war technology. Interestingly, it has also prompted talk that the U.S. is abandoning its policy of being able to fight two ground wars simultaneously.

Read the full story at The Diplomat