President Obama is going to name several top generals and a new defense secretary of the Pentagon, which is seen as an opportunity to reshape the Pentagon's leadership by the New York Times. Perspective Pentagon leaders are John Hamre, Michele Flournoy, and Ray Mabus. The New York Times points out that it is important for President Obama to "create a team of insiders who assure that his policy decisions will be executed the way he wants".
I think influence of the change in Pentagon's leadership is profound for the following reasons. First, it will direct the U.S. foreign policies in terms of military power. Given the fact that the U.S. is currently involved in the Afghanistan and Irap War, new leaders of the Pentagon will not only work on particular military strategies but also the big picture of how to distribute this nation's military power and how to take the most advantage of it. Second, if Pentagon leaders are going to be Democrats, this will ease the shellacking defeat of the Democratic Party. Third, new issues on government expense will emerge. Because the U.S. is facing "wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the threats from Iran and North Korea, and the challenges from Russia and China", military budget is symbolic about the U.S. attitude toward foreign countries. However, limiting government budget has been one of the different believes between the Republican and the Democratic Party. I think there might be another battle between these two parties if the Democrats gain most of the leadership position. Third, the image of a "big government" is likely tolast longer is President Obama appoints his insiders as Pentagon leaders. Therefore, the Republican Party of the Congress bears more burden to carry out their believes.
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