WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a speech Tuesday, "America is redefining its role in the world," and the Pentagon must adapt.
Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Washington, Hagel warned against increasingly isolationist rhetoric at a time when global forces are realigning and threats both real and existential require action to keep Americans safe, U.S. News & World Report said.
Hagel also cautioned against "hubris" regarding America's military might.
"After more than a decade of costly, controversial, and at times open-ended war, America is redefining its role in the world," Hagel said. "At the same time, more Americans, including elected officials, are growing skeptical about our country's foreign engagements and responsibilities. ... But only looking inward is just as deadly a trap as hubris, and we must avoid both in pursuing a successful foreign policy in the 21st century."
He pledged the Defense Department is undertaking review of its force readiness, evaluating and advancing technology in weapons systems both conventional and cyber, how and where troops are stationed and the Pentagon's gargantuan budget.
The re-evaluation comes as the department is preparing to file its congressionally mandated Quadrennial Defense Review in fiscal year 2015.
