Steve L.’s Post

If our Navy is having a 1930’s moment as the CNO stated recently, we should do what they did in the 1930’s: -President Roosevelt issued an executive order in 1933 allowing $238 million in emergency public works funds to be used to build thirty‐two warships over the next three years. -Pass the Vinson-Trammell Act of 1934 which authorized the Navy to construct 102 new warships over the next eight years. -Pass the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 “to further the development and maintenance of an adequate and well-balanced American merchant marine, to promote the commerce of the United States, to aid in the national defense…” -Pass the Naval Act of 1938 which increased the Navy by 20 percent. -Pass the Two Ocean Navy Act of 1940 which increased the size of the Navy by 70 percent. All during the Great Depression and before we were at war. Japan did not awaken a sleeping giant at Pearl Harbor - our defense industry already had a nearly ten year running start. https://lnkd.in/exygAUjh

#ForceDesignFriday While Force Design is more recently associated with the Marine Corps, its an issue that impacts all of the military services. In a 2000 article by Lawrence Korb, "Force Is the Issue," Korb discusses the kind of military the United States wants. Korb discusses budget considerations, size, use, and technology. Korb highlights 3 issues in 2000 that the military is facing, budget constraints, readiness shortfalls, and recruiting and retention challenges. Korb highlights the relationship between people and military force design well. #Military #Defense #ForceDesign #Budget #Personnel #Capability #Strategy https://lnkd.in/exZRtkX9

Though the United States accounts for nearly 40% of global military spending, U.S. defense spending as a share of its GDP has been on a downward trend since the 1960s. https://lnkd.in/ekdtvizu

TFF 🔻 A nearly $1 trillion defense budget faces headwinds at home and abroad The paranoid, militarism-addicted ex-super power is now putting all its (rotten?) eggs in one basket. Hopefully, its allies and friends will help it go down gracefully with a whimper rather than a bang. But that requires some independent thinking in Europe and it seems almost as paranoid and militaristic. To say the least, it does not look so promising. However, the post-US Empire and post-NATO world will surely be a much better place for the US itself too. Just imagine how much better the US itself would be with all this money invested domestically... https://lnkd.in/dEkA_BrK.

TFF 🔻 A nearly $1 trillion defense budget faces headwinds at home and abroad The paranoid, militarism-addicted ex-super power is now putting all its (rotten?) eggs in one basket. Hopefully, its allies and friends will help it go down gracefully with a whimper rather than a bang. But that requires some independent thinking in Europe and it seems almost as paranoid and militaristic. To say the least, it does not look so promising. However, the post-US Empire and post-NATO world will surely be a much better place for the US itself too. Just imagine how much better the US itself would be with all this money invested domestically... https://lnkd.in/d_Jthcbj.

Writing for the American Enterprise Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen concisely lays out the shortcomings of the Biden Administration's FY25 Defense Budget Request. The Pentagon's expected inflation rate of 2.1% strikes me as irrationally optimistic, since the annual rate of inflation has not been below 2.6% since March 2021 and reached a recent high of 9.1%in June 2022. The lowest it has been in the past year was slightly below 3.0% in June of 2023. As a maritime nation facing a growing threat in the South China Sea, the reduction of Navy ships by 9 (3%) seems shortsighted. The Army's budget trajectory is trending down, leading to the cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, the replacement for the OH-58 helicopter. The Air Force is reducing the number of F-35s purchased by 6 and the number of F-15EXs by 6. Our pacing threat, China, is increasing its defense budget by 7%. The Chinese inflation rate is estimated to be somewhere between 1-2%.

"Congress has yet to pass an FY24 defense budget, now almost six months into the government fiscal year, which started Oct. 1. For the Pentagon, this presents two major risks: a full-year continuing resolution and the threat of a sequester." #dod #military #defense #budget #army #navy #airforce #marines #spaceforce

Gaining data on Russian military capabilities has historically been difficult, and the little data provided has not always been congruent with displayed capabilities. In this report, visiting scholar at the Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program, Pavel Luzin, outlines the increase in Russia’s national defense budget for 2025 and the implications of this increase for Russia’s monetary and fiscal policies. See this link for the full report: https://lnkd.in/dWjYbTay

As we continue to navigate through uncertain times, one looming question remains: how will the U.S. military stay current and prepare for the next war in the face of mounting debt? It's no secret that our national debt has reached staggering heights, and the interest paid on this debt is starting to crowd out funding dollars for our military. With the military industrial complex at the forefront of our defense strategy, any decrease in funding could have far-reaching consequences. As our debt continues to grow, it seems only logical that our military dollar outlays will begin to shrink, leaving us vulnerable in the face of emerging threats. The implications of this potential funding crisis are troubling. Without adequate resources, our military may struggle to keep up with advancements in technology and tactics, leaving us at a disadvantage in future conflicts. Additionally, a shrinking budget could mean cuts to vital programs and training, ultimately putting our national security at risk. It's imperative that we address this issue before it's too late. We must find a way to balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the need to adequately fund our military. This means making tough decisions and prioritizing our defense spending in a way that ensures our military remains strong and prepared for any challenge. As we navigate these challenges, it's crucial that we come together as a nation to find a solution. Our military's readiness is not something we can afford to compromise, and it's up to us to ensure that our armed forces have the resources they need to protect our country. In the face of these daunting obstacles, we must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing our nation's fiscal challenges. The future safety and security of our country depend on it. 🇺🇸 #military #defense #nationalsecurity #fiscalresponsibility #usmilitary #militaryindustrialcomplex #budgetcuts #preparedness #armedforces #securityconcerns