Pentagon to Rely on Speed, Precision Weaponry in Future Conflicts

Dan Robinson, a senior official in the Bush administration, testified before Congress about the U.S. military, stating that future weapons on the battlefield will operate with high precision and speed, as seen in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the war against terrorists. Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense, spoke before the House Armed Services Committee. Wolfowitz added that the military has not yet fully assimilated the lessons learned from the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban regime. However, defense officials have concluded from their recent observations that they must be prepared to quickly deploy heavy military force to incapacitate the enemy in response to unforeseen events. Wolfowitz stated, "The emphasis is on entering the battlefield with such speed that the enemy cannot match it; unlike the method that required time to gradually increase military force for a response. We do not want the forces we have in the battlefield to be forced to wait for reinforcements." The use of elite special forces, precision-guided munitions, and full utilization of information technology are among the lessons learned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to Wolfowitz, defense planners concluded in the summer of 2001 that reducing the size of the U.S. military presence in the world was a mistake, and the events of September 11 confirmed this assessment. Despite assurances from the Department of Defense that the U.S. military can conduct and win multiple wars simultaneously, some members of Congress are concerned about the pressure this will place on the armed forces. The Deputy Secretary of Defense stated that support and partnership with key allies will help alleviate pressure on the U.S. military in Iraq. Wolfowitz commented on the reorganization of U.S. forces in Korea, stating that such actions are being taken in full consultation with Seoul to ensure readiness to fully respond to provocations from North Korea: "If Pyongyang attacks South Korea or Japan, the U.S. and its allies have the capability to defeat North Korea; among these capabilities, and beyond all previous resources, is the targeting ability that has significantly increased and reached extraordinary precision in Afghanistan and Iraq." However, Wolfowitz stated that South Korea must take on a greater share of its own defense and, in line with U.S. actions to confront any North Korean aggression, Seoul can and should spend more for its own security.