European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pentagon blueprint for the " 90s plan for major military overhaul by Michael r. Gordon new York times he Pentagon has drafted a blueprint for . Military strategy in the 1990s, assuming that once soviet forces withdraw from Eastern Europe it would take Moscow up to two years to mobilize for a major invasion. The plan Marks a striking change from the Assumption underlying . Military strategy during the cold War that Washington might have As Little As two weeks to reinforce North Atlantic treaty organization forces if Moscow appeared to be marshalling troops and weapons for an attack on Western Europe. The confidential plan which was presented to president Bush in late june by defense Secretary Dick Cheney and Gen. Colin l Powell the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff would Cut the armed forces by 500,000 troops from the current level of 2.1 million reduce overseas deployments and establish a new organizational framework for the military. The plan envisions achieving those goals by about the mid-1990s it would also take advantage of the longer warning time of a possible soviet attack on Europe by creating new army Reserve divisions that could be brought up to full strength Only if needed for a prolonged crisis. These reconstitute Able units would be partially manned and their equipment would be held in storage. The plan which has been criticized by some senior military officers who think the cuts go too far is still being refined by the Pentagon. But Bush administration officials say the main thrust has been favourably received by the president. The blueprint is the first comprehensive Effort by senior Pentagon officials under heavy pressure from Congress to reduce spending to adapt . Strategy and forces to the political and military sea change that has taken place in the soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Until now the Pentagon has presented Only fragmentary suggestions of How it would adjust to the receding soviet threat most dwelling on budget cutting measures. This has drawn Sharp criticism from members of Congress who have assailed the defense department for failing to articulate a Long term strategic vision. The Pentagon told Congress in june for example that it was considering a 25 percent Cut in forces Over five years and offered an illustrative breakdown of How. Such a reduction might be accomplished. But the june report made no mention of strategy did not explain the projected cuts in detail and was cast primarily As a budget exercise to explain the fiscal consequences of Force reductions. Pentagon officials said that the plan reflects an acceptance that the military budget is in decline. It is generally consistent with administration plans to Cut military spending after taking account of inflation by 10 percent Over five years. Somewhat greater savings could be achieved if the Pace of the reductions in forces were accelerated. But at the same time the plan is intended to help the Pentagon hold the line against More severe budget cuts by arguing that there is a base Force that the United states cannot go below. The blueprint is the result of More than five months of planning and meetings encouraged by Cheney and is based on the work of Powell and Paul Wolfowitz the undersecretary of defense for policy who oversaw separate efforts to update military planning Powell and Wolfowitz came to similar conclusions about the size of forces that would be needed. In recent weeks an Effort has been made to soviet tanks in Hungary withdrawal of the 144th tank division from Hungary is part of Gorbachev s announced troop reductions. Blueprint troop proposals below Are current United states european troop numbers and various proposed troop reductions As projected by the defense department. Current troop Force i 305,000 proposed under conventional arms talks 223,000 proposed if Moscow withdraws from Eastern Europe 100,000 125,000 is Wos Boohoo coordinate the positions of the chairman of the joint chiefs and the civilian policy experts and a paper reflecting a common position was recently presented to the defense policy resources Board the top level planning group in the Pentagon. The new plan in keeping with the thinking of Powell organizes the military into four Basic components. It would establish an Atlantic Force that would include armoured units and sizable army and air Force reserves to guard against a renewed soviet threat and to meet threats in the Gulf. There would also be a Pacific Force that would emphasize naval and tactical air units to defend South Korea and other . Allies in Asia. Additionally the military would have a contingency Force for rapid response to Bushfire conflicts in the third world and to be the leading Edge in a major . Military intervention. There would also be the strategic Force of Long Range nuclear weapons. Based on the revised forecast of the soviet military threat the blueprint Calls for cutting army and air Force units oriented toward the defense of Western Europe. The United states has already proposed shrinking its Force of 305,000 army and air Force troops in Europe to 225,000 in the conventional arms talks. Pentagon officials say the new plan does not identify what further cuts might be possible in Europe if Moscow completely withdrew its forces from Eastern Europe As projected by the defense department. But these officials add that the plan implies there would be further such reductions. In fact senior Pentagon officials Are now weighing plans to Cut to the level of 100,000 to 125,000 if Moscow should withdraw from Eastern Europe the new reconstitute Able army Reserve divisions suggested in the plan Are sometimes known As / cadre  idea of such partly manned units is part of a larger proposal advanced by Wolfowitz As a basis for building up forces in a crisis. The broader plan Calls for storing equipment from dismantled units and retaining officers who could Tram and Lead if it became necessary. Some elements of the plan have drawn Sharp criticism from the services. Pentagon officials said final decisions on important elements will not be reached by Cheney until the commanders in the Field and Tho joint chiefs of staff meet later this month and studies Are completed on issues such As the proper mix of Active and Reserve forces. One Point of Contention revolves around the possibility raised in deliberations on the plan that Tho United states would modify its Long standing policy of keeping some aircraft carriers constantly stationed near areas of potential conflict. The United states could deploy other types of vessels in some areas where carriers have traditionally operated and develop plans to surge carriers to trouble spots in a crisis. Wolfowitz and Powell reportedly have raised the question of reducing the Navy to 11 deployable aircraft carriers As part of a minimal Navy Force. The Fleet of 11 carriers would not include a Carrier used for training and another that is usually in overhaul. The Navy which currently has 14 deployable carriers says that at least 12 arc needed. An aide to Cheney said that the Secretary favors retaining a Force of 12 carriers but added that Tho matter is under review. The Marine corps objects to the blueprint s proposal to reduce the service to about 150,000 men a 25 percent Cut. Gen Alfred m. Gray the Marine corps commander has argued that the 196,000 member corps should not be reduced below 180,000. Some Marine officials say a Force in the 170,000 Range would to acceptable the marines Arguo that from a strategic standpoint their forces Are needed More than Ever to Deal with conflicts in the third world senior army officials appear reconciled to the proposal to Cut the service to 12 Active divisions from the current 18 this would be two fewer divisions than proposed by the army in internal budget deliberations uniformed army officials however Are cautions a Siut the idea for creating two  divisions in the re Vorves. Saying that it requires further study and expressing concerns that the widespread application of the proposal would Lead to even sharper cuts saturday August 11, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13