ARTICLE: U.S. Navy aims to flex 'soft power', By Gordon Lubold, Christian Science Monitor, December 27, 2007 edition

Good article. Gates' role is seminal, and I don't know Winter, so I'll reserve comment there, but I also see a huge imprint in this new naval strategy from CNOs Mullen (now Chairman) and his succesor, Gary Roughead.

Roughead brought me out to PACOM in 2006 to address his component commanders' conference, and our off-line discussion fit this strategic shift to a "T."

Of course, the shipbuilding constituency in Congress will fight back, but that only shows that all serious discussion on the War on Terror begins with the question, "How do you view China's rise?"

Gates, apparently, has the right view.

(Thanks: Jim Zolinski)