Cover: Global Access

Global Access

Strategy 2000

Published in: Air Force Journal of Logistics, v. XXIV, no. 2, Summer 2000, p. 22-27, 42-43

Posted on RAND.org on January 01, 2000

by David A. Shlapak, John Stillion, Olga Oliker, Tanya Charlick-Paley, Robert S. Tripp, Clifford A. Grammich

Defense basing decisions reflect both military needs and political conditions. The recent history of Air Force expeditionary operations points to six key variables affecting the options available to logisticians and planners when confronted with access and basing decisions. Those working to favor cooperation from other nations are close alignment and sustained military connections, shared interests and objectives, and hopes for closer ties with the United States. Those working against cooperation with the United States are fear of reprisals, conflicting goals and interests, and adverse domestic public opinion. In seeking access and basing options for expeditionary operations, planners should seek to maintain existing core Air Force assets overseas, develop new processes and technologies leading to more flexible access and basing options, and exploit new political opportunities for access and basing as they develop.

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