Affording Defense

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In large part, American national-security policy dates back to the 1950's, when the United States was dominant militarily, politically, and economically.  The country's position has changed since then, but the policy has not.  Gansler warns in this practical and far-reaching book that the old ways of thinking are no longer applicable.

Gansler's sensible proposals for reform and revitalization are based on extensive research and on his broad experience in private industry and in the Department of Defense.  He identifies locales where future conflicts may break out, considers the development of a defense strategy and the hard choices to be faced in carrying out that strategy, examines the provision of weapons and personnel for the armed services, compares the United States' approach with those of other Western countries and the Soviet Union, and addresses the challenges of terrorism and national radicalism.

Affording Defense focuses on three major problem areas, leading off with strategy and budgeting.  Gansler asserts that the United States has simply not been selecting and developing the most cost-effective weapons for various missions.  This problem is complicated by the potential for revolutionary shifts in the composition of the military forces brought on by advanced technology.  Furthermore, shortcomings in the weapons acquisition process lead to the production of too few weapons, and too late, for the United States to maintain its technological advantage over its potential adversaries.  Finally, the defense industry has not been producing weapons of adequate quality at acceptable costs in quantities sufficient to meet the nation's defense commitments.

Contents

1 - The Dilemma

2 - Potential Conflicts

3 - Selecting Weapons

4 - Defense Spending and the Economy

5 - Budgeting and Congress

6 - Buying Military Equipment

7 - Research and Development

8 - The Industrial Base

9 - Personnel

10 - Other Countries' Approaches

11 - Changes That Are Needed

Notes

Bibliography

Index