Rogue states and terrorists, perhaps armed with weapons of mass destruction, may attempt different kinds of attacks, not only on our forces abroad, but in our homeland, in urban areas and perhaps space. The report points out that the nation's military, which has done such a superb job of protecting US interests in the past, may not be able to solve these future problems without significant change. The Panel calls for a comprehensive reshaping of the skills and capabilities of our armed forces, and urges that the process begin immediately. The challenges we face do not follow traditional bureaucratic or geographical boundaries. We must stimulate innovative thinking to develop the synergies inherent in the Services and other national assets.
Information technology deserves particular emphasis.
Third, we must divest ourselves of the systems, processes, and policies that have outlived their usefulness. Moreover, their cost diverts badly needed funds from investment in the future. The procurement process and infrastructure, which grew up over the last fifty years, served us well when we were facing a global Soviet threat. But they require thorough overhaul and reduction to be useful now that the Cold War is history. Fourth, change and uncertainty will be the hallmark of the early 21 st century.