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Kite and Key: Will America Lose Its Next War?

Jon Gabriel, Ed.
@jon
Join to bookmark11likesJoin to like9comments

Eighty years ago, America rapidly mobilized to simultaneously defeat both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. But could we do it again today?

Many experts worry that America’s military readiness is slipping. And recent surveys find that our men and women in uniform doubt our ability to immediately deploy, fight, and win anywhere in the world.

That’s especially worrying given reports that China wants its military prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027.

In several wargame simulations of the conflict, America lost. In the more optimistic ones … we fought to a stalemate.

How did we get here?

First, there’s the matter of our military hardware. The Navy, for instance, is so backlogged on maintaining its fleet that it’s the equivalent of 15 ships being out of service each year.

Then there’s the question of manpower. The Army, Air Force, and Navy are all falling short of recruitment goals.

And that’s all before we get to the fact that even the Pentagon admits that China has surpassed the U.S. on several important measures of military strength.

Where does that leave us?

Vulnerable.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed by an editor.

Discussion (9)

  • Jim George@JimGeorge

    This was one of those occasions where I hit the "like" button, wishing there was one which was labeled more like "frightened" or "angry" or, the mildest of all, "disgusted." We've been seeing this kind of information for quite some time now and yet, in spite of all the dangerous indicators, we have a "leader" who just gave 10 BILLION Dollars to the principal fomentor of terrorism in the entire world. Pure evil, as if sheer incompetence were not enough.

  • Banned Member@BryanGStephens
    ReplyingtoJim George

    Ah I referenced this in my thread

    https://ricochet.com/1513611/america-is-going-to-lose-its-coming-war-with-china/#comment-6981244

    Jim George (View Comment):

    This was one of those occasions where I hit the “like” button, wishing there was one which was labeled more like “frightened” or “angry” or, the mildest of all, “disgusted.” We’ve been seeing this kind of information for quite some time now and yet, in spite of all the dangerous indicators, we have a “leader” who just gave 10 BILLION Dollars to the principal fomentor of terrorism in the entire world. Pure evil, as if sheer incompetence were not enough.

    Totally agree

  • Victor Tango Kilo@VtheK

    To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. - Sun Tzu

    China doesn't want or need a shooting war, they have all kinds of levers to defeat the United States and they are using all of them.

    • Gut our industrial capability and make us completely dependent on them economically.
    • Use cyberwarfare to exploit our fragile, technology dependent infrastructure.
    • Destroy our social cohesion by encouraging race to fight against race, class to fight against class, real genders to fight against fake genders, and so forth.
    • Strengthen our enemies (Iran) and those whom we perceive as our enemies (Russia).
    • Gain control over our academic, cultural, and media institutions through careful investments.
    • Buy out our politicians, up to and including the president.

    China could blow up one of our aircraft carriers in the South China Sea with minimal risk of consequences because we fear them. But they don't have to. Sun Tzu would be proud at how they have already defeated us.

    "There is no incident of a country benefiting from prolonged warfare" - Sun Tzu

    "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of 100 battles" - Sun Tzu

    "Pretend inferiority and encourage your enemy's arrogance" - Sun Tzu

    Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. - Sun Tzu

  • Victor Tango Kilo@VtheK
    ReplyingtoPercival

    Percival (View Comment):

    I can’t imagine what the problem might be.

    U.S. Forces Ordered to Stop Using Gender Pronouns to Improve 'Lethality'

    A division of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the branch tasked with confronting China, has ordered its senior leaders and commanders to stop using gender pronouns in written formats, saying the shift to more neutral language will help improve the fighting force’s "lethality."

    "In accordance with the Diverse PACAF priority, 'We must embrace, promote and unleash the potential of diversity and inclusion," states a May email sent to senior leaders and commanders at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam

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