WEST POINT VISIT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with Army Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, West Point superintendent, at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2011. DOD photo by Cherie Cullen Gates: Never Fight A Land War In Asia -- Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Army must be prepared for a wide range of future wars, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday. But don’t count on fighting a land war in Asia—or the Middle East or Africa for that matter.
Mr. Gates said the U.S. will need swift-moving expeditionary and special-operation forces to respond to disasters, counter terrorism or conduct stability operations.
But a state-on-state land war with tanks and artillery? Don’t count on it.
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More News On Secretary Of Defense Gates Remarks
Speech Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates - Transcript
In one of final addresses to Army, Gates describes vision for military's future -- Washington Post
Gates's warning: Avoid land war in Asia, Middle East, and Africa -- Christian Science Monitor
Gates warns against future land wars like Iraq, Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Warning Against Wars Like Iraq and Afghanistan -- New York Times
Defense secretary warns against fighting more ground wars -- CNN
Gates warns against Iraq, Afghanistan-style wars -- AFP
Gates Tells US Army to Take New Approach -- Voice of America
Gates says U.S. Army must become more nimble -- Reuters
Gates: Army must train and structure itself for future conflicts that will be more complex -- Canadian Press
Gates Challenges Cadets to Change Army Culture -- U.S. Department of Defense
My Comment: The best sentence that I have read from Secretary of Gates address is the following ....
.... "In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the President to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined, as General MacArthur so delicately put it."
Indeed.
But I know that our leaders and those who vote them in will soon forget what Secretary Gates said in his speech yesterday.