Statement as Ready by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta on the Defense Strategic Guidance
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U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release “I’d like to begin by thanking President Obama for coming here this morning, and for his vision, guidance and leadership as this Department went through the intensive review we undertook to develop the new strategic guidance we are releasing today. “This guidance recognizes that this country is at a strategic turning point after a 10 years of war and large increases in defense spending. As the President mentioned, the U.S. military’s mission in Iraq has now ended, continued progress in Afghanistan is enabling a transition to Afghan security responsibility, the NATO effort in Libya has concluded with the fall of Qaddafi, focused counterterrorism efforts have significantly weakened al Qaeda and decimated its leadership, and now as these events are occurring, the Congress has mandated that we achieve significant defense savings. “But even as our large-scale military campaigns recede, the United States still faces a complex and growing array of security challenges across the world, challenges that call for a reshaping of America’s defense priorities, focusing on the continuing threat of violent extremism, proliferation of lethal weapons and materials, the destabilizing conduct of Iran and North Korea, the rise of new powers across Asia, and the dramatic changes in the Middle East. “All of this comes at a time when America confronts a serious deficit and debt problem which is by itself a nationwide security risk that is squeezing both the defense and domestic budgets. Even facing these significant pressures, including the prerequisite of the Budget Control Act to reduce defense spending by $487 billion over 10 years, I do not believe that we must choose between nationwide security and fiscal responsibility. The Department of Defense will play its part in helping the nation place its fiscal house in purchase. “But the President has made clear, and I have made clear, that the savings we have been mandated to achieve must be driven by strategy and arduous evaluation, not by the figures on your own. “Consequently, over the previous few months, we have conducted an intensive review to guide defense priorities and spending over the coming 10 years, in light of strategic guidance from the President and the recommendations of this Department’s senior military and civilian leadership. This process has enabled us to assess risk, set priorities, and make hard choices. Allow me be clear, this Department would need to make a strategic shift regardless of the nation’s fiscal situation. That is the reality of the world we live in. “As difficult as it may be to achieve the mandated defense savings, this has also given us in the Department of Defense the opportunity to reshape our defense strategy and force structure to more effectively meet the challenges of the future, deter aggression, shape the security environment and decisively prevail in any conflict. “From the starting, I set out to ensure that this strategy review was inclusive. Chairman Dempsey and I met frequently with Departmental leaders, including my Under Secretaries, the Service Chiefs, Service Secretaries, Combatant Commanders and senior enlisted advisors. We’ve discussed this strategy and its implications with the President, with members of Congress, and with outside experts. “Four overarching principles have guided our deliberations: First, we must maintain the world’s finest military, one that supports and sustains the unique global leadership role of the United States Second, we must avoid hollowing out the force-- a smaller, prepared, and well-equipped military is preferable to a larger, unwell-ready force that has been arbitrarily cut across-the- board Third, savings must be achieved in a well balanced way with everything on the table, including politically