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Excerpt: In 2002 Pres. George W. Bush proclaimed that the twenty-first century would be the "Asia-Pacific Century." While I am not sure he was the first person to use that phrase--and it has been often used by others over the past 10 years--for those of us who study the region and/or have more than a casual familiarity with the region, the proclamation rings true. In a November 2011 article in Foreign Policy magazine, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went so far as to say, "The future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action." These are powerful words, underscoring the fact that Asia matters, and it matters a great deal. For those who are interested in national security affairs, the question is not whether Asia matters but what our country should do about the fact that Asia matters. How should we posture ourselves to best advance our national interests in a region that will have so much to do with our future security and prosperity? Certainly, there will be much study and many well-considered judgments concerning these important questions, and most of this work will contribute to advancing our collective ability to successfully confront the scores of challenges that lie ahead. In this regard, I was pleased to learn that the Air Force Research Institute was undertaking a year-long study of the Air Force strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. While it is clear that all instruments of national power will play critical roles in our national strategy for the region, the military instrument will underpin all of our efforts in the region. The US Air Force will play an especially key role, with its ability to rapidly span the vast distances in the Pacific while engaging our allies, partners, and friends in the region through forward presence and exercises. Related products: Other products produced by the United States Air Force can