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Bush Vows to Build Strong U.S. Military Force
Bush Vows to Build Strong U.S. Military Force
President George W. Bush Friday pledged to build a strong US military force which is defined less by size and more by mobility and swiftness.
"I'm committed to building a future force that is defined less by size and more by mobility and swiftness, one that is easier to deploy and sustain, one that relies more heavily on stealth, precision weaponry and information technologies," Bush said in a speech at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Bush told the 2001 graduating class of the Naval Academy that they had to be ready to accept and embrace changes in military technology.
"Building tomorrow's force is not going to be easy. Changing the direction of our military is like changing the course of a mighty ship -- all the more reason for more research and development, and all the more reason to get started right away," he said.
Bush said building a 21st century military will require more than new weapons and also require a renewed spirit of innovation in American officer corps.
"We cannot transform our military using old weapons and old plans, nor can we do it with an old bureaucratic mindset that frustrates the creativity and entrepreneurship that a 21st century military will need," he added.
Bush is awaiting a final report from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who is near completion of a sweeping US military strategy review that defense officials said would shift emphasis from Europe toward emerging threats in Asia.
Officials said last week the review stresses that Washington must develop missile defenses and should rely less on bases in Asia and more on long-range weapons.
Rumsfeld is grappling with whether the United States should abandon the principle that the military must be prepared to fight two major regional wars at the same time.
He said this week he would like Congress to hold hearings on the question, suggesting an unveiling of the Bush administration's strategy is weeks or months away.
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