Role of the U.S. Military in the World

It is my view that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is correct when he says (recently as quoted on Army Times Online) that the need to reduce defense spending is going to cause the U.S. to re-evaluate it's role militarily in the world, and to eliminate some defense programs, and having a smaller force than what we've had for the past decade. I say it's about time this was discussed so openly at his level, and in the manner he's doing it. Personally,  think we're going to miss him after he leaves office.