2010 Quadrennial Defense Review: Today’s Wars Are Job One

In Monday’s news briefing on the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, Secretary Gates stated that "achieving our objectives in Afghanistan and Iraq has moved to the top of the institutional military’s budgeting, policy, and program priorities."

The objective of prevailing in current wars is obviously a major departure from the longstanding force-sizing construct of planning for two major theater wars. But it also was a discussion point over a year ago in Joint Force Quarterly, when John Nagl and Gian Gentile debated the long-term implications and wisdom of a focus on counterinsurgency doctrine and training for the U.S. Army. You can revisit the argument here:

John A. Nagl, “Let’s Win the Wars We’re In,” Joint Force Quarterly 52 (1st Quarter 2009), 20.

Gian P. Gentile, “Let’s Build an Army to Win All Wars,” Joint Force Quarterly 52 (1st Quarter 2009), 27.