Introduction -- Study objectives and scope -- Analysis framework -- Organization of this monograph -- Path to defining future global U.S. postures -- Global U.S. security interests -- Perspectives on global presence needed to achieve U.S. security interests in East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East -- Perspectives lead to global postures -- Comparison of global postures -- Operational performance -- Global postures support other U.S. security interests -- Characteristics of global postures -- Strategic choices: Overseas U.S. military presence -- Appendix A. Protecting the global commons: confusing means with ends -- Appendix B. Design of database of current U.S. bases overseas -- Appendix C. Comparison of global postures. Tables -- Table 2.1. Global U.S. security interests -- Table 2.2. Global U.S. security interests and regional threats -- Table 2.3. Perspectives on achieving U.S. security interests in East Asia -- Table 2.4 Perspectives on achieving U.S. security interests in countries across Europe and the Middle East -- Table 3.1. Characteristics of global postures -- Table B.1. Air fields presently used by USAF common to all global postures -- Table B.2. Air fields presently used by USAF in some global postures.