The document is found at the URL below, among others.
http://www.jfcom.mil/...
I highly suggest reading the document in its entirety before continuing with the diary. It is about 75 pages long and its hard to digest, not because of the style, but because of what it says about the future of our nation and the world. It's not pretty. You may want to have a drink before reading it and maybe a stiffer drink afterwards.
"The Joint Operating Environment is intended to inform joint concept development and experimentation throughout the Department
of Defense. It provides a perspective on future trends, shocks,
contexts, and implications for future joint force commanders and
other leaders and professionals in the national security field. This
document is speculative in nature and does not suppose to predict
what will happen in the next twenty-five years. Rather, it is intended
to serve as a starting point for discussions about the future security
environment at the operational level of war."
The JOE 2010 is not a position paper. However, it is a "look ahead" by the US Joint Forces Command at the world around the US and what may or may not lie ahead. I suppose one could consider it a thoughtful review of the world situation with consideration for what the US might want to plan for in coming decades. It is well written, but the topics are very heavy. The outlook ahead for the world is grim. Even if you don't subscribe to their political views, the rest of the document is a good assessment of the likely implications of Peak Oil, climate change, resource depletion, water scarcity and other subjects.
I'm sure some will take issue with the views of other countries expressed in the document. However, if you can overlook that and look at the global picture, you can see what the US military thinks may be the major problems in the next 25 years. They are very aware that prediction is a hazardous occupation and that they may well be wrong in the specifics. The general picture is hard to argue with. I do suggest that after reading it, you think about it and digest the information thoroughly before posting comments.
I post this for the DKos readership for general awareness of what our nation's military leaders see as potential issues and flashpoints in coming years. I hope to stimulate some dicussion on what may lie ahead for our nation and our world.