What Is the Upside to a More Direct Engagement?

Eric Gomez: In peacetime, it's a bit of a fire under their butts to do more for their own defense. The prospect of having a smaller US presence in Asia would provide the political and military incentive for allies to put their money where their mouth is. Another upside is that it creates some opportunities by reducing the US forward presence. If deterrence fails anyway, then I think this model of conflict provides for a much slower course of events.