At the time of Mr. Panetta's announcement, Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, the highest-ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement: "If necessary, we will be able to introduce legislation to stop any changes we believe to be detrimental to our fighting forces and capabilities".
A Ministry of Defence source welcomed Mr Cameron's commitment but added that the department had been focussing on efficiencies to make the savings required by the Treasury rather than cuts to frontline forces and capabilities.
In the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, the Russian military underwent a significant reduction in force and capability that transformed it into a shell of its former Soviet-era glory.
"During that time, if necessary, we will be able to introduce legislation to stop any changes we believe to be detrimental to our fighting forces and their capabilities.
Hagel should consult with these members and make the case that the force structure and capabilities mix he is seeking to create will be better prepared to face the threats of the future.
The need of the hour is to focus on the security forces and their capability, instead of on the question of who could be behind the Taliban who are attacking the Pakistani military, he said.
According to this document, the Alliance should adapt to these new threats and sets out the Alliance vis-a-vis capability issues, planning disciplines and intelligence for the next 10 to 15 years, including among others the need for joint expeditionary forces and the capability to deploy and sustain them over long periods of time.
-- Military and security forces' willingness and capability to train with other nations and participate in peacekeeping operations, and details of peacekeeping experience.
On that scale, the Pentagon's latest quarterly readiness report to Congress, issued last week, concluded that "most major combat and key support forces are ready to meet assigned taskings, although there are force readiness and capability shortfalls that increase risk in executing operations".
LIBYA Government fighter jets and tanks hammered rebels seeking the ouster of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in battles along the eastern Mediterranean coast and in the besieged western city of Zawiyah, as a new report documented how badly the insurgents lag the Qaddafi forces in equipment and capabilities.
TRIPOLI, Libya — With airstrikes, armor and artillery, military units loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi hammered the rebels seeking his ouster in battles along the eastern Mediterranean coast and in the besieged western city of Zawiyah on Tuesday, as a new report documented how badly the insurgents lagged the Qaddafi forces in equipment and capabilities.
