America's Military Revolution: Strategy and Structure After the Cold War

Odom, the former director of the National Security Agency, warns that the U.S. is in the process of dismantling its military capability before developing a post-Cold War strategy. In this concise analysis, he urges reversing the drift toward isolationism in favor of a strategy that would see a U.S. policy of carefully selected global engagement, decreased dependence on unilateral initiatives and greater emphasis on international cooperation to keep the general peace and contain local conflicts. Addressing the issue of how we can afford adequate military forces in a time of austerity, Odom suggests cost-efficient ways to increase strategic lift, improve close-air support capability and develop further expertise in coalition management. He calls for radical reconstruction of the Defense Department, including abolishing the Joint Chiefs of Staff and creating a defense council. This is crucial reading for those seriously concerned with America's security and defense. (June)