Quote of the day: Gates nixes putting big U.S. land forces in Asia or the Middle East

From Defense Secretary Gates’ very good speech today (Friday) at West Point:

The need for heavy armor and firepower to survive, close with, and destroy the enemy will always be there, as veterans of Sadr City and Fallujah can no doubt attest.  And one of the benefits of the drawdown in Iraq is the opportunity to conduct the kind of full-spectrum training — including mechanized combined arms exercises — that was neglected to meet the demands of the current wars. 

Looking ahead, though, in the competition for tight defense dollars within and between the services, the Army also must confront the reality that the most plausible, high-end scenarios for the U.S. military are primarily naval and air engagements —  whether in Asia, the Persian Gulf, or elsewhere.  The strategic rationale for swift-moving expeditionary forces, be they Army or Marines, airborne infantry or special operations, is self-evident given the likelihood of counterterrorism, rapid reaction, disaster response, or stability or security force assistance missions.  But in my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should "have his head examined," as General MacArthur so delicately put it.

Gates also quoted retired Lt. Gen. David Barno’s comment that, "In a smaller professional force competing for talent with the Googles of the world," reform of Army personnel systems is a must. Gates didn’t say where he read that (and there was no reason to do so), but it was nice to see the sec def quote this blog.