Obama’s way forwardAs President Barack Obama’s team gets down to work, it must not only overcome the errors of the previous administration, but also be sure to recognize its successes.
History will judge the Bush administration’s rush to war in Iraq and its failure to plan for post-invasion operations; its tragic loss of focus on pursuing the enemy in Afghanistan; its refusal to consider diverse opinions and nonconforming intelligence; and its alienation of much-needed friends and allies.
But while the Bush administration had its failures, it can also take credit for disrupting al-Qaida and other terrorist networks; for increasing vigilance to prevent a second attack on its watch; for launching the biggest reforms to the sprawling national security infrastructure since the Cold War’s peak; for creating the Homeland Security Department and U.S. Northern Command to improve domestic security, and U.S. Africa Command to help stabilize the world’s poorest continent; and for fusing the nation’s disparate and often dysfunctional intelligence arms under a single boss.
During President George W. Bush’s tenure, transformation and operational necessity forced concepts and technologies through staunch resistance and into the mainstream military: unmanned systems, innovative surveillance technologies and new counterinsurgency tactics. Outdated programming and budgeting rules were revamped, and combatant commanders were allowed greater say over policies, budgets and acquisitions.Now the Obama team takes the helm, knowing it must earn the military’s trust, fund modernization and shape a national strategy so the Pentagon can reform its forces and equipment for the challenging road ahead.
Rest of article at:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/community/opinion/marine_editorial_obama_020209/%2e
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