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Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad

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Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad Defending Forward Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad Foreword by former Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Edited by Bradley Bowman December 2020 FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES FOUNDATION Defending Forward Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad Foreword by former Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Edited by Bradley Bowman December 2020 FDD PRESS A division of the FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES Washington, DC Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad Table of Contents FOREWORD ....................................................................................................................................... 6 THE BIG DEBATE AND LOOMING CHALLENGES .................................................................... 9 The Retrenchment Syndrome .......................................................................................................................10 “Endless Wars” and the Danger of Ignoring History .................................................................................14 Retain American Power, Do Not Restrain It...............................................................................................18 CENTRAL COMMAND ..................................................................................................................... 23 The Jihadist Threat Persists ...........................................................................................................................24 Avoiding a Self-Inflicted Wound in the Sinai .............................................................................................28 America’s Small but Effective Presence in Syria .........................................................................................32 Learning the Correct Lessons From Iraq ....................................................................................................36 Countering the Iranian Threat in the Persian Gulf ....................................................................................40 America Does Not Have to Choose Defeat in Afghanistan ......................................................................45 EUROPEAN COMMAND .................................................................................................................. 48 American Interests in the Eastern Mediterranean .....................................................................................49 Preserving America’s Military Posture in Germany ..................................................................................53 Strengthening NATO in the Black Sea Region ...........................................................................................58 INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND ........................................................................................................... 61 China’s Military Aims ....................................................................................................................................62 Seizing the Advantage in the Asia-Pacific ...................................................................................................66 Standing With the Free People of Taiwan ...................................................................................................70 Japan Remains the Cornerstone of the Pacific ...........................................................................................75 Partnering With Seoul to Deter Pyongyang ...............................................................................................81 THE PATH FORWARD ...................................................................................................................... 86 Countering Beijing’s Fused Overseas Strategy ...........................................................................................87 Defending Forward in the Cyber Domain ..................................................................................................90 Enhancing Special Operations for Sustained Counterterrorism Operations .........................................93 Strengthen the Alliance With Israel to Contain China .............................................................................96 Lessons From the European Deterrence Initiative.....................................................................................100 CHARTING A BIPARTISAN PATH TO SECURE AMERICAN INTERESTS ............................... 104 Page 5 Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad FOREWORD By Leon E. Panetta Besieged by a global pandemic, saddled with growing federal debt, and distracted by other domestic challenges, Americans are not thinking about U.S. defense policy or global military posture. Lately, they have grown concerned about the very state of our democracy. When foreign policy manages to enter a conversation, it often takes the form of support for “ending endless wars.” I certainly appreciate the desire to end military conflicts and deployments. Too often as secretary of defense, I found that my most difficult responsibility was calling or writing families to inform them that a loved one tragically paid the ultimate price for our country. Page 6 Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad Then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks to military personnel during his visit to Camp Lemonnier on December 13, 2011, in Djibouti. (Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais – Pool via Getty Images) But whether we like it or not, the United States confronts of devastating wars, hard lessons from more recent a growing array of serious national security threats. conflicts, and current realities. Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang, in addition to a number of determined terrorist organizations, continue Such a policy requires well-resourced and capable to pursue objectives inimical to American interests. American diplomats, development experts, and intelligence professionals. But it also requires a ready and In considering how to best respond, I draw lessons from well-trained military, forward-positioned and equipped my five decades of public service. with the most modern and advanced weapons and systems available. One of them is the realization that keeping our homeland safe and prosperous requires Americans to lead on the I also know from my time in government that the threats international stage – engaging other nations and building we confront are simply too numerous and complex for capable coalitions. Withdrawing into a defensive and Americans to address alone. We simply lack the resources insular crouch here at home risks leaving Americans more to defend our country and our citizens sufficiently isolated and more vulnerable to threats. Large oceans do against revisionist powers, rogue states, and terrorist not provide the protection they once did. organizations simultaneously. The economic impact of the global pandemic will only widen the gap between the More than ever, Americans must go defense resources required and those available. abroad to remain secure at home. Thankfully, America is blessed with an unparalleled More than ever, Americans must go abroad to remain network of allies and partners to help mitigate this resource secure at home. Such a view is neither a right nor left gap. The right U.S. military posture can empower local policy – it is smart policy informed by a modern history partners, deter aggression, and defend our interests. This Page 7 Defending Forward: Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad approach can ultimately reduce the demand on the U.S. The first section includes essays that provide helpful military and the U.S. Treasury. historical context, describe the current state of the debate, and make the policy argument that retaining – My experiences in government also teach me that every not restraining – forward-positioned U.S. forces in key military deployment and withdrawal deserves intense locations alongside allies and partners represents the best scrutiny. Military interventions almost never go as way to defend U.S. interests. planned, and they often last longer and include more challenges than originally anticipated. The use of armed Sections two, three, and four examine three regional force should be considered a last resort. combatant commands that are vital to U.S. security and prosperity: Central Command, European Command, and Americans are certainly right to scrutinize and debate Indo-Pacific Command, respectively. The contributions military interventions. There is much to criticize, for in each section describe U.S. national security interests, example, about the decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and the leading threats to those interests, and the necessary how the campaign in Afghanistan has been conducted. American military posture in each region. But we must also apply the same scrutiny to withdrawals. Section five includes essays that focus on the path In doing so, Americans will find that some withdrawals can forward, offering specific suggestions related to Beijing’s be equally deleterious to our national security, especially policy of military-civil fusion, the cyber domain, special when the withdrawals are conducted precipitously and operations, Israel and China, and a Pacific Deterrence without clear preconditions. Initiative. Each of these chapters offers a new perspective to traditional discussions regarding U.S. overseas Unfortunately, debates about war often devolve into military posture. opposing sides caricaturing
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