As reported in the NY Times (Military Budget Reflects a Shift in U.S. Strategy) and elsewhere, the new proposed US Military budget reflects a shift in strategy. It shifts spending to different priorities, represents a reflective assessment of investment and capability and puts the people of the military in the center of the budget.

In order to push this new thinking from proposal to reality, President Obama is going to need to stand up to those in his own party who will attempt to protect projects in their districts regardless of their effective use as a military capability. Watch for a huge fight over fighters. The F-35 reflects the new strategic imperative of adaptive mission capability and responsible manufacturing and design reuse. The shutdown of F-22 production, which is nearing end-of-life anyway (though you will be hard pressed to hear elected representatives save this) is a last decade response that met its goals and needs to go into maintenance mode.

Obama and talk and think all he wants. This will be a test of leadership as he negotiates strongly with House and Senate democrats to lead them into doing the right thing.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, and Gen. James E. Cartwright. By Stephen Crowley/The New York Times