Quadrennial Defense Review fact sheet available Published April 30, 2009 WASHINGTON, (AFPN) -- People who are interested in learning more about the Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review process can do so by just accessing the QDR fact sheet that was posted April 29 on Defenselink, the Pentagon's public Web page. "The QDR takes a long-term, strategic view of the Department of Defense and will explore ways to balance achieving success in current conflicts with preparing for long-term challenges," Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III stated in a Defense Department news release issued April 23. The QDR "will also look at ways to institutionalize irregular warfare capabilities while maintaining the United States' existing strategic and technological edge in traditional warfare," Mr. Lynn said in the release. The QDR is performed every four years; previous QDRs were conducted in 1997, 2001, and 2006. The purpose of the QDR is "to assess the threats and capabilities the nation faces, and then integrate strategies, resources, forces, and capabilities necessary to prevent conflict or conclude it on terms that are favorable to the nation now and in the future," Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in an April 23 news release. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page