The pace at which our strategic and operating environments evolve is increasing – offering advantage to those actors which are most agile and able to seize new opportunities or mitigate emerging risks. This advantage amplifies the ability of single actors to alter the strategic environment. Global austerity measures will impact the military and intelligence capability of strategic partners, further amplifying the risk to U. S. interest.

                                                                      “Annual Threat Assessment“, Defense Intelligence Agency (USA)