Mark Weinrich’s Post

US Congress Approves $886 Billion Defense Budget for the year 2024 by a decisive margin of 310-to-118. This defense policy bill, recently approved by both the House and Senate, awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become law. The bill has expanded by $28 billion compared to the previous year's budget. This represents an approximate three percent increase in funding. Service member's basic pay will see a 5.2% increase in the fiscal year 2024, marking it the largest raise in over 20 years. The bill plans to prolong the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative until 2027 as it greenlights $300 million for the program in both the current year and the next one. The bill emphasizes strengthening the US posture in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly to deter Chinese actions. #whitehouse #congress #usarmy #usarmedforces #defenceindustry #budget2024 #newsupdate

In Europe we should take note that the US is spending less on defence than since 1940. Currently it stands at some 3.5 percent of GDP and a navy of less than 300 ships. Late President Reagen spent 6 percent and had a navy of 600. Neither Biden nor Trump are strong on defence, when it comes down to it. They prefer spending on infrastructure, entitlememts and border defences. Like their European peers, where only a few spend more than 2 percent on defence. That’s where the votes are. This is throublesome. And a weakness ingrained in democracy. Voters are concerned with their own hardships and prefer hand-outs and entitlements to national security. And hence, the latter gets eroded. Well, war looms. Like it did 1938-1940. We have to win in Ukraine. The only way to do it, is to cut back on the entitlements and hand-outs and start spending real money on defence. But don’t hold your breath.

I find it difficult to follow some of the arguments in this piece. Firstly, like most warmongering U.S. politicians, just to name a few: Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer and of course the 'elderly man with a poor memory'; the author seems to accept the discourse that NATO member states would be 'attacked by Russia' without the U.S. support. This is the very type of 'reasoning' that enabled NATO the false pretence of numerous preemptive wars and continued expansion. For those who feel they must line up in the anit-Trump camp, I would say that some would agree that there might not be a Russia/Ukrain war if Trump was still in the white house today.. In any case, our close alliance with the U.S., according to this joint statement: "... Our relationship is founded on a shared commitment to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and a peaceful, inclusive and rules-based international order based on respect for international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It is anchored in shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and the protection and promotion of human rights." Isn't it ironic that the U.S. remains the biggest sponsor of Israel's genocidal war to this day. I question which 'shared values' can we still be so vocal in advocating today??

A broad political agreement for Norway's new long-term defense plan 2025-2036 has been reached through processing in parliament. Last week, the plan was adopted by the parliament in a plenary session. The agreement on the long-term defense plan is historic, as all nine political parties represented in parliament commit to implementing it. The settlement increases the economic framework of the plan by NOK 11 billion. This entails a NOK 611 billion spending increase on defense for the next 12 years. https://lnkd.in/duBt5W3U

Peace thru Strength or War due to Weakness? Biden has put the US on an unstable footing and is giving away all of our strategic reserve fuels and munitions. We are standing on the edge of a world war and we are ill equipped to fight both within our borders and on a world stage. We look as weak an feeble as Joe Biden himself. It is time to put our Military back together and present the peaceful strength as we did under President Donald Trump. https://lnkd.in/gpssTMpi

I hope you'll read my latest Substack article - here are the first and last paragraphs. On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump led a coup d’etât to violently overthrow our government. On laid out by the Jan 6th Congressional Special Committee, he was aided in this plot by members of Congress, his advisors, government officials and right-wing terrorist militias. A question that has not been addressed in public is what role members of the military may have had this attack on our country. And why our Military Leaders have not brought these folks to justice, through dishonorable discharge, terminating pensions and through military tribunals. We must demand accountability through our Congressional Representatives and in the public forum. The failure of the U.S. Military to enforce the UMCJ relative to actions related to January 6th & Espionage by the former President is a threat to “upholding good order and discipline”. It encourages further actions in violations of the Code by failing to take action. An excuse that the Military does not want to interfere with a “political process” is an abdication of authority. The Chairman and Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must take action or otherwise risk future actions of mutiny, insurrection and espionage. United States Department of Defense, Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, Senator Tammy Duckworth, United States Senate Committee on Armed Services #leadership #espionage #insurrection #derelictionofduty #UMCJ #militarycodeofjustice

The Pentagon Needs the American Private Sector to Step Up and Contribute its Resources and Focused Efforts to Support the Country in These Increasingly Perilous Times Globally. The publication Foreign Policy outlines the problem well, asking how we can rebuild the US Arsenal of Democracy to protect our nation and allied democracies throughout the world. Properly structured Public Private Partnerships could be part of the solution to activate American industry. Excerpts include: “…..Defense Department officials are facing a problem from hell. How can the Pentagon mobilize the U.S. defense industry to respond to not just one conflict or two, but potentially three wars?” “There was a time when the United States could turn plowshares into swords; in the Second World War, the United States built more of pretty much everything than any other combatant, from tanks to planes to ships to landing craft. Then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it the “arsenal of democracy” because it was. In five years, U.S. factories built 141 aircraft carriers, 88,410 self-propelled guns and tanks, and 257,000 artillery guns.” “…..China has done everything short of invading Taiwan, though it has vowed to do so at some point soon. In a naval fight, shipyards count as much or more than hulls in the water, and there the United States is beached. Even when it comes to what the United States is really good at—building and operating high-end nuclear submarines—they are artisanal affairs. The rest of the U.S. Navy is shrinking while China’s is growing….. If the United States were in a war with China over the Taiwan Strait, it could run out of long-range precision munitions within a week, according to one study.” https://lnkd.in/eQGVEbJa

The consideration of reinstating the military draft highlights critical issues in military recruitment and preparedness. While the draft could address manpower shortages, it raises significant societal, ethical, and logistical concerns. The draft's implementation could lead to resistance and societal division, particularly among younger generations. It is crucial to explore comprehensive and sustainable alternatives, such as enhancing recruitment incentives, improving military conditions, and investing in advanced technology. A balanced, multi-faceted approach can better address the complexities of modern military needs without resorting to conscription.

The US is not at war, and conscription is a topic for debate; this should be alarming to All. Social participation in a "thriving" society is crucial to developing a cohesive Human Capital to run a nation. Once Human Capital can officially be addressed as critical infrastructure, PPD, HSPD, and NSDs can strengthen this force vulnerability directly and distribute true equity. Who will serve the nation if most young people are unwilling to? Will the West be okay with the private sector filling in the gap? How about the general public? WW1 revolutionized the development of basic military training with the advent of artillery, machine guns, and maneuver tactics, which laid the foundation for small-unit leadership. We are in a similar period today, and if a nation's Human Capital is not developed when this vulnerability is exploited, the private sector will fill in the gap.