Not Prepared for Major War

[Moosefish]

Non-Partisan Comission Slams US Defense Strategy

Interesting article, if you like reading this stuff. It's non-political & worth further discussion or at least awareness.

A Congressionally mandated commission found serious faults with the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy, concluding that it fails to fully recognize China’s growing military might, Russia’s persistent threat, risks from Iran and other rogue states—and the increasing convergence of all three.

The Pentagon is under-financed and inadequately structured for the current threat environment, and should be funded and built to fight multiple wars at once, rather than just one.

 

[sanforddawg11]

Sounds like some Lockheed reps. We absolutely dwarf the globe in defense spending. I’m sure we are incredibly inefficient with the funds (as with anything the federal government touches) and probably waste sickening amounts.

 

[Dirty Hairy Dawg]

Sounds like some Lockheed reps. We absolutely dwarf the globe in defense spending. I’m sure we are incredibly inefficient with the funds (as with anything the federal government touches) and probably waste sickening amounts.

We also dwarf the globe in amount of territory we fund to defend.

 

[Moosefish]

Sounds like some Lockheed reps. We absolutely dwarf the globe in defense spending. I’m sure we are incredibly inefficient with the funds (as with anything the federal government touches) and probably waste sickening amounts.

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:

...29 percent of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks faced food insecurity. The number is an estimation, as not all families in need want to admit it. The military culture of self-sufficiency leaves many suffering reluctant to speak about their difficulties in fear they will be regarded as irresponsible

...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?

The share of the U.S. population with military experience has declined, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 1980, about 18% of U.S. adults were veterans, but that share fell to 6% in 2022

This happened alongside a decrease in active-duty personnel after the military draft ended in 1973. The number of active-duty service members dropped from 3.5 million in 1968, during the military draft era, to about 1.3 million in today’s all-volunteer force. Active-duty service members now comprise less than 1% of all U.S. adults.

Fewer members of Congress have military experience than in the past, according to a Center analysis of the 118th Congress conducted after the 2022 congressional elections. In the current Congress, 18% of representatives and 17% of senators are veterans, down drastically from just a few decades ago.

For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

 

[agentorange70]

Smedley Butler became the crusader of the Monroe Doctrine as a marine through many forgotten small wars across South America and Butler spoke about the exploits of being the strong arm of crony capitalism in the early 1900s,...Prescott Bush and other Cosmo capitalists attempted to gain influence from him to convince through his previous military leadership to lead 500k men to DC in 1934 to represent DuPont, Morgan, etc...to change policy through intimidation,...Smedley Butler refused and reported the attempt to Congress, nobody remembers it to this day

 

[stray]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

Sounds like things are going as planned.

81million people(wink wink) voted for this. Do the 2 spirit people get to vote twice?

 

[sanforddawg11]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're designed for. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

I’m speaking strictly about the military being underfunded…not referring to any personnel issues or recruiting issues mentioned in here. Though sheer numbers aren’t as meaningful as they once were…see China cutting their forces in half a few years ago apparently in favor of modern warfare.

China, for all their rapid advancement as stated, is still not in the same realm as far as spending. Seems there is a logical argument for more effective and efficient use of funds to yield better results.

 

[Moosefish]

Smedley Butler became the crusader of the Monroe Doctrine as a marine through many forgotten small wars across South America and Butler spoke about the exploits of being the strong arm of crony capitalism in the early 1900s,...Prescott Bush and other Cosmo capitalists attempted to gain influence from him to convince through his previous military leadership to lead 500k men to DC in 1934 to represent DuPont, Morgan, etc...to change policy through intimidation,...Smedley Butler refused and reported the attempt to Congress, nobody remembers it to this day

I'm not sure that stories bordering on being a century old are super-relevant to a discussion specific to today's global threats. Plus, there are severe doubts about the legitimacy of Butler's story about an attempted fascist takeover.

That's the most likely reason that "nobody remembers it to this day".

Sounds like things are going as planned.

81million people(wink wink) voted for this. Do the 2 spirit people get to vote twice?

In fairness, this issue is cross-admin & knows no party lines. Failure to adequately advocate for long-term strategic requirements is a short-sighted problem that's common for most politicians.

 

[Moosefish]

I’m speaking strictly about the military being underfunded…not referring to any personnel issues or recruiting issues mentioned in here. Though sheer numbers aren’t as meaningful as they once were…see China cutting their forces in half a few years ago apparently in favor of modern warfare.

China, for all their rapid advancement as states, is still not in the same realm as far as spending. Seems there is a logical argument for more effective and efficient use of funds to yield better results.

You're 100% incorrect, in both areas. First, we are absolutely underfunded, because we've been cutting personnel & other capabilities w/ the promise of technical innovation....yet, we aren't even funding the tech that we claim are keystones of our defensive posture. We're wasting $$ by not adequately funding programs years in advance because we're afraid of the upfront cost. The short-sightedness of "upfront cost" vs. kicking the can down the road at exponentially increased per-item costs & then subsequently cutting programs because of this self-imposed cost increase is borderline criminal...there is absolutely zero long-term testicular fortitude to make the right decisions in a timely manner. So,...yes. We are "under-funded", both in real terms and in being stewards of our tax dollars in the most efficient manner possible.

Plus, personnel are absolutely a part of the equation. You can't logically separate the two (experience matters & recruiting capable talent is key...that's supposedly what makes us different) & your framing of China is flawed.

China's accounting is not representative of what they're accomplishing, due in large part to them undervaluing their currency. Plus, their own self-reported spending levels is questionable, at best. Beyond that, they're operating at a scale that cannot be overcome by tech alone...which we aren't fielding at a level that's adequate to even approach keeping up with (see above).

They will eventually win on pure numbers due to advancements in near-peer or peer levels of technology because we refuse to fund at a level that we can even keep up with on paper. These gaps are not a secret....they're constantly outlined & noted to Congress. But, we keep pressing the "I Believe" button that we'll "figure it out" when we have to.

But, we don't have the industrial base that we used for WWII...both in terms of basic WWII-level tech & the advanced tech we use in most of our systems.

So, I'm going to respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation.

 

[cherrydawg]

But at least we got rid of those that refused the China virus vaccine.

 

[Pine_Tree1]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

You & I had our disagreements on this issue months back. The US is ill prepared for major war but we seem hell bent on finding out soon enough

 

[Moosefish]

You & I had our disagreements on this issue months back. The US is ill prepared for major war but we seem hell bent on finding out soon enough

My main point is the ability in the rapidly approaching near-future. Today? We'd kick everybody's ass. But, at our current trajectory...we're in trouble, imo.

But, we absolutely have to fund our nuclear triad at a level we're not currently at.

I think the difference of our opinions are minor...we both want the same thing.

 

[brimur]

This is an important discussion and I’m sure we could definitely improve funding in certain areas, but I am often suspicious of calls for more spending without pairing it with finding efficiencies and phasing out outmoded tech to save money. So in that sense, I think @sanforddawg11 raises fair points. There is a legendary amount of waste in the DOD.

 

[Moosefish]

This is an important discussion and I’m sure we could definitely improve funding in certain areas, but I am often suspicious of calls for more spending without pairing it with finding efficiencies and phasing out outmoded tech to save money. So in that sense, I think @sanforddawg11 raises fair points. There is a legendary amount of waste in the DOD.

Two things can be true at the same time:

1. We are not investing enough, where we need to.

2. We can be better stewards of money

If we would listen to the non-partisan military experts in this area: We've been trumpeting where we need to spend money, how we need to spend money, & why we need to spend it.

The bigger problem is that we are not ready to hear how much needs to be spent, because we've been under-investing for decades. It's a big number, but we've been spoiled w/ the job that the military has done with ill-fitting pieces not designed for the current or future job at hand.

The military is doing & expected to do far-more than in the past, with older equipment, at below-inflation pay levels, without the political capital required to re-invest & stay on top.

We are literally living on Reagan-era investments & expecting things to be cheaper. We wasted decades of peace dividends.

 

[brimur]

This is an important discussion and I’m sure we could definitely improve funding in certain areas, but I am often suspicious of calls for more spending without pairing it with finding efficiencies and phasing out outmoded tech to save money. So in that sense, I think @sanforddawg11 raises fair points. There is a legendary amount of waste in the DOD.

 

[anon_q2raz786xy94b]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

I don’t want to say anything but if the navy is small, that’s because they’ve retired as many ships as they’ve built lately due to design and construction foul ups. No sympathy

 

[ugadoc]

Non-Partisan Comission Slams US Defense Strategy

Interesting article, if you like reading this stuff. It's non-political & worth further discussion or at least awareness.

We need a business man to run the country. Cut out all the waste and put it in border and defense. Especially since Middle East war expansion is around the corner. We need Trump! God help us if the Dems cheat and put her in office. I’ll be pushing for secession!

 

[PAPPA DOC]

I'm an old military brat.
I had a long discussion with a 30-year recently retired colonel two weeks ago.
He is very concerned about how prepared our military is fight a 2-front war. He was more concerned about the politicization of the military and lack of merit promotions.
For example, how many millions were spent on base name changes.

 

[Pine_Tree1]

My main point is the ability in the rapidly approaching near-future. Today? We'd kick everybody's ass. But, at our current trajectory...we're in trouble, imo.

But, we absolutely have to fund our nuclear triad at a level we're not currently at.

I think the difference of our opinions are minor...we both want the same thing.

No doubt America is heading in the wrong directions in terms of economy, homeland security, political division, birth rates, militarily, love & respect for country, education system, workforce entries, national debt, corrupt leadership, etc.

When the American empire inevitably does die, hopefully America the country (not America the world police empire with their hands in everything) will be a better country for all. That's my hope anyways.

My bet though is half the freedoms & rights we currently have as citizens will evaporate over night

Trying to be America the world ruler has weakened us and stretched us so thin. It has been our biggest cancer

 

[Lady43]

Non-Partisan Comission Slams US Defense Strategy

Interesting article, if you like reading this stuff. It's non-political & worth further discussion or at least awareness.

This started happening during the Obama administration and continued with Biden.

 

[poorpreacher]

No doubt America is heading in the wrong directions in terms of economy, homeland security, political division, birth rates, militarily, love & respect for country, etc.

When the American empire inevitably does die, hopefully America the country (not America the world police empire with their hands in everything) will be a better country for all. That's my hope anyways.

My bet though is half the freedoms & rights we currently have as citizens will evaporate over night

Trying to be America the world ruler has weakened us and stretched us so thin. It has been our biggest cancer

Agreed. America IS heading in the wrong direction. And yet we are about to elect Kamala Harris President.

Kamala Harris. Smh.

She doesn't have any clue how to lead.

Read the teleprompter and do what she's told? Yeah. Think for herself and make real decisions, on serious issues? No way.

 

[Moosefish]

This started happening during the Obama administration and continued with Biden.

It started happening with the fall of the Soviet Union and continued as we mistakenly let our peer/near peer capabilities atrophy in favor of the GWOT. We have a habit of preparing for the last war instead of the next.

 

[Eastmandawg]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

good info.

 

[anon_q2raz786xy94b]

And I’ll put the same question to the other side. Parts of LA, NYC, Chicago look like a third world country and you can’t escape it because you live in suburban Atlanta, it will be here soon. And you want to spend money on technology that will be obsolete in 10 years. Why?

 

[OriginalGatorHator]

And I’ll put the same question to the other side. Parts of LA, NYC, Chicago look like a third world country and you can’t escape it because you live in suburban Atlanta, it will be here soon. And you want to spend money on technology that will be obsolete in 10 years. Why?

@SLC_Dawg is cooking this morning.

 

[phoenixdawg]

Sounds like some Lockheed reps. We absolutely dwarf the globe in defense spending. I’m sure we are incredibly inefficient with the funds (as with anything the federal government touches) and probably waste sickening amounts.

that is because we defend the world

 

[phoenixdawg]

This is far more than 'Lockheed Marketing':

1. We have our Smallest Navy since 1917 with a greatly reduced ship-making capability & a lack of recruiting success had the GAO highlight that personnel shortfalls have contributed to accidents, with ships operating with only 84% of the required sailors. Plus, the ships are old.

2. The Army finished fiscal year 2023 with only 452,000 active duty soldiers, its smallest force since 1940

3. The Air Force has it's oldest fleet of planes ever with Eight Airframes Exceeding 50 years of Age and the need to modernize our nuclear forces is critical, whose existence is critical to deterrence and allows us to field smaller forces as the backbone of our entire defense strategy.

4. Yet, Military members Are Away from Home Now More than Ever Despite No Major Ongoing Wars

5. We entered 2024 with the smallest force in 80 years, the total number falling to 1,284,500 with the combined shortfall in recruiting missing goals in 2023 by a combined 41,000 personnel.

6. China has rapidly increased their defense spending leading to extremely rapid growth in real military equipment spending that has transformed China’s defense forces with far larger number of active personnel

7. Yet, reports of as many as 160,000 active-duty military members having trouble feeding their families. With many on food stamps:



...and a pay raise designed to combat this was vetoed this year.

8. So, commissions like the one I linked are the only real way to put perspective in what is needed to continue to do the missions we're actively tasked against. Why?






For the reasons I listed above and others that I cannot discuss here, I think your dismissal of this concern is misguided.

100%, nothing like people who have never served waxing poetic about military service and the needs of said service

 

[blackpug6]

Sounds like things are going as planned.

81million people(wink wink) voted for this. Do the 2 spirit people get to vote twice?

some fool told my secret
how he knew
I know not.

not one to lay whipped.

 

[blackpug6]

This started happening during the Obama administration and continued with Biden.

It started happening with the fall of the Soviet Union and continued as we mistakenly let our peer/near peer capabilities atrophy in favor of the GWOT. We have a habit of preparing for the last war instead of the next.

you talk too much

 

[TivoliDawg]

Non-Partisan Comission Slams US Defense Strategy

Interesting article, if you like reading this stuff. It's non-political & worth further discussion or at least awareness.

The United States is not ready for serious war.

Our military industrial complex is falling behind, we do not have the rare earth, minerals, and chips that we need, we are turning our back on our allies, and we are allowing the European Union to contribute way less than they are required to. I don’t like a lot of things about Donald Trump, but that is probably the thing I like the most – he got the euros to pay their fair share.