A nation must think before it acts.
Defense Showstoppers: National Security Challenges for the Obama Administration
Date : Thu., February 12, 2009 9:00 am to 4:45 pm Category : FPRI in D.C.
The Obama Administration will face numerous challenges to U.S. national security. Among these, several stand out for their potential as “showstoppers,” where, if the challenge is not met, the U.S. may suffer a strategic loss of capability:
- What is the proper balance between counterinsurgency and traditional military formations in our planning?
- With respect to the procurement process, the defense industrial base, and the budget, are we short-changing the future?
- Can the U.S. meet its responsibilities with the current active-reserve structure? And if not, how?
- Seven years into the Long War, how can we improve coordination among Defense, State, the CIA, and others?
In this conference, our objective is to set forth clearly the actions needed to sustain America’s defense capability.
Topics and Speakers
Opening Remarks
Panel 1: How Will We Fight? (Roles and Missions)
Paper
Stephen BiddleCommentator
Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
Roger D. CarstensCommentator
Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security
Michael HorowitzModerator
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, and Senior Fellow, FPRI
Panel 2: At What Cost? (Procurement/Defense Budget)
Paper
Research Fellow, Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities, Marine Corps Combat Development Cmd.
Mackenzie EaglenCommentator
Senior Policy Analyst for National Security, Heritage Foundation
Christopher PrebleCommentator
CATO Institute
Michael P. NoonanModerator
Director - National Security Program
Luncheon Address
Keynote
USMC, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command
John HillenIntroduction
Member - FPRI Board of Trustees
Panel 3: Who Will Fight For Us? (Personnel)
Paper
Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution
Senior Principal Researcher, RAND Corporation
Frederick W. KaganCommentator
Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Mackubin Thomas OwensModerator
Editor -
Associate Dean, U.S. Naval War College
Panel 4: Brother, do you have a DIME? (Interagency)
Paper
Assistant Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University
Ralph PetersCommentator
Author
Hon. Thomas A. SchweichCommentator
Visiting Professor of Law and Ambassador in Residence, Washington University in St. Louis
Frank G. HoffmanModerator
Research Fellow, Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities, Marine Corps Combat Development Cmd.
Registration links
Register Deadline
Thu., February 12, 2009