{"id":38981,"date":"2020-02-26T17:12:48","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T17:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/26\/sinai-mission-crisis-response-forces-and-numerous-outdated-tasks-potentially-on-chopping-block\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:57:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:57:34","slug":"sinai-mission-crisis-response-forces-and-numerous-outdated-tasks-potentially-on-chopping-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/02\/26\/sinai-mission-crisis-response-forces-and-numerous-outdated-tasks-potentially-on-chopping-block\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinai mission, crisis response forces and numerous outdated tasks potentially on chopping block"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told lawmakers Wednesday that seldom-used crisis response forces and a number of outdated mission tasks across the combatant commands were under review as the U.S. looks to shore up resources to counter Russia and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pentagon planners are still conducting a defense-wide review of thousands of tasks and missions across the combatant commands that may not align with the military\u2019s strategy to address rising near-peer competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One mission potentially on the chopping block following the review is the Multinational Force and Observers mission, where several hundred U.S. troops have been participating in a peacekeeping operation between Egypt and Israel since 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chairman, told lawmakers Monday at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the defense budget that the Pentagon needs to look at whether the Sinai mission \u201cis still a valid mission\u201d for U.S. forces, and whether the peacekeeping operation \u201cstill makes sense\u201d to address rising near-peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t