ABSTRACT
The Reagan Administration has invested massive resources in improving the combat effectiveness of the general purpose force of the United States, in upgrading and strengthening the three "legs" of the US strategic Triad, and in modernizing the Pentagon's command, control and communication systems. The major objectives of President Reagan's defense buildup have been addressed by US Administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger. The very high levels of US defense spending are thought by some analysts to be a product of past circumstances. There are apparently certain thresholds constraining US defense outlays, ranging from a lower limit of about $150 billion to an upper boundary of about $220-250 billion. The inability of the United States to increase defense expenditures this upper limit over protracted periods is essentially a byproduct of several budgetary constraints that preclude an increase in defense expenditures. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
