US military chiefs discuss military blueprint

U.S. military chiefs from around the world are in Pentagon this week to discuss the upcoming Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) which will set the tone for U.S. military strategy in coming years, the Pentagon said Monday.

Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are hosting the Senior Defense Leaders' Conference between Jan. 9 and Jan. 11.

The first two days of the conference will feature updates provided by regional combatant commanders, according to him.

The QDR will be a major topic of discussion when Pentagon leaders meet with the senior commanders on Jan. 11, said Di Rita.

QDRs are conducted by the U.S. military every four years to determine what the U.S. military will require in manpower and materiel to address anticipated challenges in the next 20 years.

QDRs also are used to help prioritize needs regarding force size and the acquisition of military hardware.

Di Rita said the new QDR will be the first to draw on lessons learned from the global war on terrorism.

He said the new QDR will be completed soon and will be presented to the Congress in February.

Source: Xinhua