1、 Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments 1667 K Street NW,Suite 900,Washington DC 20006 Thinking Smarter About Defense www.CSBAonline.org|202-331-7990|Fax 202-331-8019 February 25,2015 STATEMENT BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC FORCES ON THE IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S.SECU
2、RITY OF GROWING NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST By Andrew F.Krepinevich President Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Mr.Chairman,Senator Donnelly,Members of the Committee,thank you for inviting me to appear before you today to present my thoughts on the implications of growing re
3、gional nuclear capabilities for U.S.security.As requested,I will focus my remarks on the situation in the Middle East over the next decade.1 U.S.SECURITY OBJECTIVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST The United States arguably has three overriding security objectives in the Middle East.First,we have to eliminate sa
4、nctuaries for fanatical cults like ISIS from which they could mount catastrophic attacks against the U.S.homeland in the future.Second,we want to maintain access to the global economys principal energy source.Third,we want to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the region,particularly to Iran,w