US defence policy

Abstract

In preparing the Bush administration's plan for future US defence policy, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has kept observers guessing about his intentions. Uncertainty over Rumsfeld's direction has led to a plethora of contradictory reports, with some, for instance, predicting the cancellation of key weapon systems, and others suggesting that Rumsfeld thinks favourably of the supposedly doomed technology. Speculation about a major shift in the focus of security policy away from Europe and towards Asia has been matched by reports that Rumsfeld prefers incremental change, and fully recognises the global nature of US interests. This speculation may be an indication that Rumsfeld is unsure which policies to follow. However, Rumsfeld's modus operandi also reflects a recognition that the coalition-building and transparency urged upon him by his critics has proved unhelpful in past reviews. Rumsfeld's approach has given him the freedom to think broadly and strategically, without being beholden to vested interests, but the scope for radical change in US defence policy is limited by budgetary constraints and continuing strategic imperatives.