Research for Power Projection

This paper analyzes 'the way ahead' for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in view of recent events, in particular the dissolution of the Soviet threat, U.S. economic woes, and a vivid Southwest Asia experience. These events have led to three guiding themes for the Navy's future. First, naval forces should have a structure that continues to enable action in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Phrased another way, the nation needs a 'three-ocean Navy.' Second, the Navy should not only adapt to a joint approach to military presence, crisis response, and regional contingencies but also play a key leadership role. The nation needs a 'joint Navy' and the Navy should take heed. Third, the naval acquisition process needs to adjust to better harmonize military industry with new national priorities. The nation needs 'opportunistic acquisition,' and this is a message to the military-industrial complex.

As the Cold War draws to an end, U.S. military presence in Asia is being called into question. Opponents of continued presence consider it a vestige of earlier times since there is presently no compelling threat to deter. Proponents of U.S. military presence argue that potential conflicts still exist, and that the U.S. must be forward-deployed to react to crisis in a timely manner. This paper analyzes U.S. presence in Southeast Asia.