Chuck Hagel may be the new U.S. Secretary of Defense if he wins confirmation.
If so, is he just another empty suit or someone who can really transform the DOD to make it:
1. Combat capable.
2. Sustainable
Currently, the U.S. Army has several defects such as basing a brigade combat team concept around the death-trap and unsustainable Stryker.
The future U.S. and U.S. Navy air power roadmap is in serious trouble with the junk that is the F-35.
The U.S. Navy has huge sustainment and combat-readiness issues with its fleet all while trying to put to sea bad ideas like the littoral combat ship.
The nuclear weapons deterrence community and industry needs a serious sustainment refresh with sound leadership and direction.
We have way too many flag-ranks and SES.
I don't have a problem with cutting the U.S. DOD budget. I have a problem with the U.S. DOD procuring failed weapons systems at the expense of combat readiness and...the defense of the nation.
3 comments:
That, Mr. Hagel, if you just happened to read this blog post entry, sir, was Eric Palmer at his best posing very relevant and critical questions in the most succinct and eloquent manner with respect to some of the utmost Defense-related strategic interests of the USA.
Thanks for your service sir and God speed.
Mr Hagel, his boss Maobama and his boss Hu Jingtao thanks you for your assistance in castrating US military power. Because even though every military program has teething problems, the most complex, most advanced fighter ever designed absolutely has to die to give America's enemies a fighting chance.
beorTo the poster above ^
It's not about a potential axing or restructuring/postponing of the F-35 Program which is the matter of the situation here... it's about deciding how to best proceed with a prudent, strategically calculated and actually sustainable recapitalization requirement, while simultaneously facing the future reality of austere budget environments and unexpected capability/deterrence gaps from the originally wishful yet fundamentally miscalculated JSF recap plan!
First things first. Sufficiently fulfill and augment with most cost-effective and reliable TACAIR recap requirements in the medium term to address (hedge against) unexpected gaps, delays and uncertainties, then proceed with acquiring a more proven and sustainable F-35 aircraft as part of the total force structure mix as afforded and sound strategy.
And take the childish and dysfunctional politics out of the equation and you too can better contribute to advocating more responsible strategic planning -- not for unsustainable, high risk gambles no matter eye-watering the fantasy.
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