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 The plans, which the paper said were outlined by several Pentagon
officials on condition of anonymity, would be aimed at reducing
defense spending in the face of government austerity after a pledge
by President Barack Obama to end U.S. involvement in wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
It would leave the military capable of defeating any enemy but too
small for long foreign occupations, and would involve greater risk
if U.S. forces were asked to carry out two large-scale military
actions at the same time.
"You have to always keep your institution prepared, but you can't
carry a large land-war Defense Department when there is no large
land war," the Times quoted a senior Pentagon official as saying.
It added that some of the plans may face political opposition in
Congress, but quoted the officials as saying that they had the
endorsement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(Writing by Eric Walsh)
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