Foreign Policy Research Institute A Nation Must Think Before it Acts Defense Showstoppers: National Security Challenges for the Obama Administration

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

Lt. Gen. Dennis McCarthy

USMC, Ret. and Executive Director, ROA

Harvey Sicherman

President, FPRI

Panel 1: How Will We Fight? (Roles and Missions)

T.X. Hammes

Paper

Stephen Biddle

Commentator

Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations

Roger D. Carstens

Commentator

Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security

Michael Horowitz

Moderator

Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, and Senior Fellow, FPRI

Panel 2: At What Cost? (Procurement/Defense Budget)

Frank G. Hoffman

Paper

Research Fellow, Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities, Marine Corps Combat Development Cmd.

Mackenzie Eaglen

Commentator

Senior Policy Analyst for National Security, Heritage Foundation

Christopher Preble

Commentator

CATO Institute

Michael P. Noonan

Moderator

Director - National Security Program

Luncheon Address

Gen. James Mattis(Ret.)

Keynote

USMC, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command

The Hon. John Hillen

Introduction

Member - FPRI Board of Trustees

Panel 3: Who Will Fight For Us? (Personnel)

Michael O’Hanlon

Paper

Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution

Senior Principal Researcher, RAND Corporation

Frederick W. Kagan

Commentator

Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

Mackubin Thomas Owens

Moderator

Editor -

Associate Dean, U.S. Naval War College

Panel 4: Brother, do you have a DIME? (Interagency)

Janine Davidson

Paper

Assistant Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University

Ralph Peters

Commentator

Author

Hon. Thomas A. Schweich

Commentator

Visiting Professor of Law and Ambassador in Residence, Washington University in St. Louis

Frank G. Hoffman

Moderator

Research Fellow, Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities, Marine Corps Combat Development Cmd.

Registration links

Register Deadline

Thu., February 12, 2009

Related Program(s)

National Security Program