Hot Spots
02/05/2015
Threats Facing America
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Feb. 3, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vincent R. Stewart, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) outlined some of the security challenges and threats faced by the United States.
“Our challenges range from highly capable near-peer competitors, to empowered individuals with nefarious intentions. Increasing demands, coupled with today’s challenging fiscal environment, have stressed our defense intelligence establishments and forced us to accept greater risk,” Stewart said.
The increasing scope, volatility and complexity of threats are “the new normal,” Stewart said.
There are three areas of special concern, according to Gen. Stewart.
“Capable military competitors – Russian military activity, for example – [are] at historically high levels,” he said. “Moscow is pursuing aggressive foreign and defense policies, including conducting destabilizing operations in the Ukraine, conducting a record number of out of area naval operations and increasing its long-range patrols.
“In addition,” Stewart continued, “Beijing is focused on building a modern military capable of achieving success on a 21st century battlefield and advancing its core interests – which include maintaining its sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and projecting its regional influence.”
Stewart talks of vulnerable and ungoverned territory due to the erosion of moderate and secular Islamic states.
“While coalition strikes have degraded [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s] ability to operate openly in Iraq and Syria, the group retains the ability to conduct limited offensive operations and is seeking to expand its presence and influence beyond these two countries,” he said. “Governments in countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon are under stress from a variety of sources, thereby reducing their capability as a region to confront the threat posed by violent extremists.”
Plus the breakdown of order in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya and northern Nigeria has created “fertile spawning grounds” for terrorist organizations with far-reaching influence.
The second area of concern is space and cyber threats from the likes of Russia and China, who are recognizing the strategic value of space and seek to diminish the advantages now held by the U.S. and its allies.
“Both countries are conducting anti-satellite research and developing anti-satellite weapons, with the intent of denying the U.S. the use of space in the event of conflict,” Gen. Stewart said.
The cyber threat is particularly alarming because of the interconnected nature of weapons, communications and networks.
“At low cost, with limited technical expertise, our adversaries have the potential to cause severe damage and disruption to U.S. systems, leaving little or no footprint behind,” said Stewart. Additionally, the speed and influence of mobile communications and social media have the potential to magnify crises and shorten the decision-making cycle.
The third concern is sequestration. The demand for intelligence has never been greater, said Stewart, but sequestration “will have a direct and lasting impact on our ability to provide high-quality, nuanced intelligence required by policy makers and war fighters. I fear that the true cost of these difficult choices today may be paid on the battlefield of the future,” the general said.
At least it would appear sequestration, and the issue of a restricted military budget, is going to be addressed between Congress and President Obama, who both seek increases in defense spending.
Source: dia.mil; Claudette Roulo / DoD News
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Brian Trumbore
