?with the inherited wars of iraq and afghanistan now receding, president obama took his boldest step yet thursday to recast the pentagon’s priorities to reflect his own.
the specifics of the new defense strategy he released thursday will trickle out in coming weeks as the administration lays out its next budget. but its contours bear the president’s imprint to a significant degree, with defense secretary leon panetta saying mr. obama was involved in long and detailed review discussions.
both in reorienting the pentagon’s attention toward the pacific and away from the long and costly boots-on-the-ground invasions that characterized the last decade, obama has put his stamp on the military. the fact that he, for the first time, delivered such an announcement from the pentagon itself underscored the message. |