Quote of the other day: End of an era
From the CNAS policypalooza earlier this month: Former Pentagon policy official Jim Thomas, looking at the growing "anti-access" problem, especially in the Western Pacific, said, "We may be entering what may be called the ‘post-power projection’ era." He noted that this means it likely is going to be harder to deploy and operate in traditional ...
From the CNAS policypalooza earlier this month: Former Pentagon policy official Jim Thomas, looking at the growing "anti-access" problem, especially in the Western Pacific, said, "We may be entering what may be called the 'post-power projection' era." He noted that this means it likely is going to be harder to deploy and operate in traditional modes. And so we may need to think about a very different force, with lower signatures, smaller footprints, less logistical support, and relying far more on alternative energies.
From the CNAS policypalooza earlier this month: Former Pentagon policy official Jim Thomas, looking at the growing "anti-access" problem, especially in the Western Pacific, said, "We may be entering what may be called the ‘post-power projection’ era." He noted that this means it likely is going to be harder to deploy and operate in traditional modes. And so we may need to think about a very different force, with lower signatures, smaller footprints, less logistical support, and relying far more on alternative energies.
That’s a pretty sweeping order. I suspect Thomas is going to wind up in high places at the Pentagon and/or White House, so the services might want to begin thinking about this sooner rather than later.
Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1
More from Foreign Policy

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose
Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy
The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now
In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet
As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.