The US declares peace in Europe, prematurely

The Pentagon's 'strategic guidance', released on 5 January 2012, makes three key changes: it establishes Asia as the focus of US military efforts, with the Middle East a close second. It foresees fewer 'nation-building'
missions such as the one in Afghanistan, and more strikes from afar and from the air, sometimes in cyberspace.

And the guidance strongly implies that the US military will have to prioritise: regions such as Europe, which the US regards as peaceful, will see fewer American troops. The Pentagon is under orders from the White House to save at least $450 billion over the next ten years.

• Primary Source

US: Department of Defense: Sustaining US Global Leadership - Priorities for 21st Century Defense, January 2012 http://www.defense.gov/news/defense_strategic_guidance.pdf

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