As US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter crossed the nation last week previewing the Pentagon’s fiscal 2017 budget request, a few trends appear to be forming for the Department of Defense.
Carter’s comments made clear that the Pentagon will not allow itself to be fully distracted by the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group, commonly known as ISIS or ISIL, and instead will push to continue long-term modernization programs to battle "great power" competition.
“We must have — and be seen to have — the ability to impose unacceptable costs on an advanced aggressor that will either dissuade them from taking provocative action, or make them deeply regret it if they do,” Carter said Feb. 2, adding, “In this context, Russia and China are our most stressing competitors.” More
