(c) The military strategy that emerged -- (in support of 
Carter Doctrine) -- added new strategic importance to U.S. 
basing in the Philippines, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and 
Turkey. 
The Center for Naval Warfare Studies, Naval War College, was tasked 
by the Chief of Naval Operations in December, 1987 to study the effects 
of a contraction of overseas bases and access on the U.S. Navy. The 
study, "Overseas Basing: The Impact of Change" (Appendix E, Item 4), 
was to assume continuity in the U.S. strategy of forward defense. In 
his tasking, CNO identified two specific areas of interest: 
(a) The general implications for naval forces of a loss 
of U.S. ground and land-based tactical air forces' overseas 
basing. 
(b) The implications for the U.S. Navy of a contraction 
of its own overseas base support structure. 
In view of the present investigation, directed to the feasibility 
of modularized ocean basing systems as an alternative to overseas base 
support structure, it should be noted that the Center for Naval Warfare 
Studies team interpreted their charter to explore the implications of a 
reduction in the number of bases overseas. In responding to CNO, the 
NWC study team conceded that "obviously, the simplest method to deal 
with the loss of a base is to move the functions to alternative sites." 
The investigators at the Naval War College identified security 
environment factors which provided context for their problem situation. 
Certain of those factors relate significantly to the thrust of the pre- 
sent investigation as follows: 
(a) Today, the "Communist threat’ argument has lost much 
of its strength. ...Indeed, on both sides of the world, the 
image of the Communist threat is waning in the minds of our 
hosts, who initially welcomed us. Now, 40 years later, they 
just tolerate our presence. ...Increasingly, our allies wish 
to find their own way in the world.... 
(b) In some countries, there is a growing uneasiness 
with our continued carrying of nuclear weapons in non- 
strategic or marginally strategic platforms. Some of this 
opposition also spills over to include nuclear-powered ships. 
