110 STAT. 2626
PUBLIC LAW 104-201—SEPT. 23, 1996
(11) The extent to which resources must be shifted among
two or more theaters under the defense strategy in the event
of conflict in such theaters.
(12) The advisabihty of revisions to the Unified Command
Plan as a result of the defense strategy.
(13) Any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate.
SEC. 924. NATIONAL DEFENSE PANEL.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than December 1, 1996, the
Secretary of Defense shall establish a nonpartisan, independent
panel to be known as the National Defense Panel (in this section
referred to as the "Panel")- The Panel shall have the duties set
forth in this section.
(b) MEMBERSHIP. —The Panel shall be composed of a chairman
and eight other individuals appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the chairman and ranking member of the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate and the chairman and ranking
member of the Committee on National Security of the House of
Representatives, from among individuals in the private sector who
are recognized experts in matters relating to the national security
of the United States.
(c) DUTIES. — The Panel shall—
(1) conduct and submit to the Secretary the assessment
of the review under section 923 that is required by subsection
(b)(2) of that section;
(2) conduct and submit to the Secretary the comprehensive
assessment of the review that is required by subsection (c)
of that section upon completion of the review; and
(3) conduct the assessment of alternative force structures
for the Armed Forces required under subsection (d).
(d) ALTERNATIVE FORCE STRUCTURE ASSESSMENT.—(1) The
Panel shall submit to the Secretary an independent assessment
of a variety of possible force structures of the Armed Forces through
the year 2010 and beyond, including the force structure identified
in the report on the review under section 923(d). The purpose
of the assessment is to develop proposals for an "above the line"
force structure of the Armed Forces and to provide the Secretary
and Congress recommendations regarding the optimal force structure to meet anticipated threats to the national security of the
United States through the time covered by the assessment.
(2) In conducting the assessment, the Panel shall examine
a variety of potential threats (including near-term threats and
long-term threats) to the national security interests of the United
States, including the following:
(A) Conventional threats across a spectrum of conflicts.
(B) The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
the means of delivering such weapons, and the illicit transfer
of technology relating to such weapons.
(C) The vulnerability of United States technology to nontraditional threats, including information warfare.
(D) Domestic and international terrorism.
(E) The emergence of a major potential adversary having
military capabilities similar to those of the United States.
(F) Any other significant threat, or combination of threats,
identified by the Panel.
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