The U.S. Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG) reflects the reality that offshore balancing has jumped from the cloistered walls of academe to the real world of Washington policymaking, says Christopher Layne.

The Pentagon's strategic review sets the stage for a new era of restraint in U.S. military spending and a focus on priorities in Asia. CFR's Richard K. Betts and Max Boot discuss the challenges facing the U.S. military and the implications for U.S. defense policy.

Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellows Richard Betts and Max Boot join Staff Writer Jonathan Masters in a discussion of the Department of Defense's recent strategic review, military spending, and U.S. defense strategy.

This collection of essays by Richard K. Betts, a leading international politics scholar, investigates the use of American force since the end of the Cold War, suggesting guidelines for making it more selective and successful. Betts argues that American force should be used less frequently but more decisively.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave these remarks on the defense strategic review, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for the 21st Century Defense", at the Pentagon on January 5, 2012.

President Obama gave these remarks on the strategic defense review, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership:Priorities for 21st Century Defense", on January 5, 2012 at the Pentagon.

This defense strategy document, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense", was released on January 5, 2012. The introduction states, "This strategic guidance document describes the projected security environment and the key military missions for which the Department of Defense (DoD) will prepare. It is intended as a blueprint for the Joint Force in 2020, providing a set of precepts that will help guide decisions regarding the size and shape of the force over subsequent program and budget cycles, and highlighting some of the strategic risks that may be associated with the proposed strategy."

The eurozone and Saudi Arabia are elevated threats in 2012 under CFR's new Preventive Priorities Survey, while Afghanistan and Sudan are reduced. CFR's Micah Zenko discusses.

Brad Stone explains how a save-the-earth maker of solar-powered aircraft became the world's most prolific manufacturer of military drones.

Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) discusses the changing environment in the Middle East, focusing on Israel's future relations with Egypt and its other neighbors.

What is the best way to stabilize Afghanistan at a time when international forces are scaling down commitments? Putting Afghan troops in the lead of their own counterinsurgency efforts, writes CFR's Linda Robinson.

One casualty of the latest U.S.-Pakistani frictions is the cutoff of critical supply routes for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, raising questions about cooperation in the region.

Congressman Barney Frank discusses the Obama administration's strategy and current level of spending on national defense.

Michèle Flournoy, under secretary of defense for policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, discusses America's strategy in Afghanistan.

Michèle Flournoy, under secretary of defense for policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, discusses America's strategy in Afghanistan.

Stanley A. McChrystal, former commander of the United States and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan and Joint Special Operations Command's premier military counterterrorism force, discusses his experiences in Afghanistan.

This meeting is part of the HBO History Makers series.

Tom Brokaw interviews General Stanley McChrystal about the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

Stanley A. McChrystal, former commander of the United States and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan and Joint Special Operations Command's premier military counterterrorism force, discusses his experiences in Afghanistan.

This meeting is part of the HBO History Makers series.

CFR fellows Daniel Markey and Ed Husain discuss the implications of a tougher U.S. policy toward Pakistan on counterterrorism cooperation, on the war in Afghanistan and the future of the region.

In his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Max Boot argues that the impact of budget cuts has the potential to devastate our armed forces and do more damage to their fighting capacity than any other external foe.