CSBA_20180130_向众议院军事委员会提交的关于美国军队为未来战争做好准备的声明.pdf

TESTIMONY STATEMENT BEFORE THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON READYING THE U.S.MILITARY FOR FUTURE WAR January 30,2018 Statement by Thomas G.Mahnken President and CEO,Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Chairman Thornberry,Ranking Member Smith,and distinguished members of the Committee:thank you for your invitation to appear before you today to discuss the need to prepare the U.S.military for the challenges of future war.This is a vitally important topic.In recent years it has become apparent that we are living in a world characterized by peacetime competition between the United States,China,and Russia.Both the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy have rightfully emphasized this.Of course,competition is not the same thing as conflict.Nor does competition necessarily lead to conflict.It must be admitted,however,that in addition to the reality of great power competition,we face an increasing possibility of great power war.The possibility is remote,but not inconceivable,and it is growing.What was once a hypothetical future contingency is now a real,and present,danger.This is significant for three reasons.First,and most obviously,the consequences