Next president to find limited military options Recent diplomatic efforts by the White House with both North Korea and Iran -- nuclear newbies and remaining members of the "axis of evil" -- strike many as the Bush administration's desperate grab for legacy. But I see a different strategic reality emerging, one that will steer the next president's course whether he likes it or not. Due to Afghanistan and Iraq, our military is essentially tied-down on a near global basis. That means America cannot place large numbers of boots on the ground anywhere right now, and to do so with any speed would be monumentally difficult.