Is there a wolf at the door? Why are we drawing down in the face of old and new threats? I am interested in hearing what you have to say.

LTC Scott O'Neil — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:06:11 -0500

I would like to know what you think.
Is the threat Foreign or domestic? Is our government of the people, by the people for the people the threat for not providing for the common defense? Or, is it an old adversary who has arisen from the ashes like a phoenix to strike fear in the hearts of free men and women or lastly the new threat of a country of a billions who slowly need to grow in stature and power?
Between the resurgence of the Kremlin and the Russian Military, China and its blue water Navy and their thousands of cyber-attacks on the Pentagon and a growing ISIS threat in Southeast Asia, why is the United States military drawing down to its lowest manning levels in decades? I have talked to Platoon Leaders in the 82nd Airborne Division, the Army’s premier rapid reaction force, which is supposed to be manned at 120%. Platoon Leaders are telling me they are manned at below 100% and that there is a shortage of NCOs in the Brigades. Is The Army and its sister services in a state of unreadiness? Did sequestration (Congress and the President in ability to come to grips with a budget) cause this or is it a multitude of issues; like multiple combat deployments, poor leadership, a Government’s unwillingness to man and equip our Armed Services at a level to fight and defend the Constitution and People of this Great Nation or an administration who does not understand the requirement for a strong military. Lastly is it the people of The United States who choose to turn the cheek or turn a blind eye on a threat with a capability to destroy what took over 200 years to perfect.
Why does Congress and the President continue to neglect and not support the sons and daughters the people of America entrust to them to serve and protect this great nation. Why, because we the people do not stand up for our Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Our enemies of the past are not gone nor have they disappeared. They have gone to ground in order to rebuild their economic base, combat power and reasserted themselves as stronger and more capable enemy (Russia). China continues to conduct cyber operations against the U.S. Armed Services, yet due to our economic assets and debt to this nation we continue to turn the other cheek. ISIS is an old enemy with a new face and name (Taliban, religious extremist and rebels). What will it take for the American People and its government (The President and Congress) to wake up and see these threats as real; another attack on American soil where thousands of Americans will die. We do not learn from these lessons (9/11), we get excited for 3 or 4 years and then we slip back into complacency. Why, are we not the world’s superpowers or are we like other superpowers of old, Persia and Rome who burned the candle at both ends and whose light burned dim as time elapses and eventually burned itself out.
The first rule of combat is never leave an enemy alive for it will come back stronger and with a vengeance to hurt you. In WWI and WWII we fought the enemy until it was unable to fight no longer and we did this with complete dedication of time, personal and military strength. Men and women were deployed until the war was over until the enemy was destroyed physically and mentally. In Vietnam with fought a deployment war where soldiers deployed in and out of a combat zone. We did not win this war and we did not learn a lesson from this “Police Action”. Now we are fighting a conflict where we have been deploying combat troops in and out of a combat zone for over 13 years (Afghanistan and Iraq) and we did not totally commit personal or combat power to destroy the enemy like in WWI and WWII. The enemy here is like a hydra we cut of one head and it grows two they continue to resurrect and bite us in the ass because we have not totally destroyed the enemy physically or mentally. This enemy has the desire and the capability to take the fight to the American people on the American homeland. Why, why did we not line up 3 Divisions on one boarder of Iraq and Afghanistan and roll through the country side to the other end of the country and destroy every enemy combatant like we did to Germany and Japan. When Politicians are allowed to dictate to the military in tactical goals and objectives the Armed Services’ hands are tied in their ability to conduct warfare. So, where does that leave us today? Is there a wolf at the door and if so do we have the capability to protect our own and destroy the threat? Or will we fight it and let it go to ground only to resurrect and fight us another day?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 1:26 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:26:15 -0500

Sir:

To answer your second question, from your subject line, why are we drawing down---"the sequester" would be the best, most succinct answer. You touch on sequestration early in your post, but don't come back to it.

There is no grand strategic plan based on assessment behind the draw down; it is simply a response to U.S. law. We can thank our politicians, from both sides of the isle, for coming up with the concept of the sequester; for not avoiding it; and for not doing anything since it was triggered to rectify the situation.

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=122065

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Response by CPL Roland Newton made Jul 24 at 2015 2:17 AM

CPL Roland Newton — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 02:17:14 -0400

It is going to be a BIG mistake to draw down the Military, I think we need them now more than every.

Response by SSG Rick Reeder made Aug 2 at 2019 8:44 PM

SSG Rick Reeder — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 20:44:20 -0400

I have always been for a strong military. We didn't get where we are by being pacifists. Politicians have proven time after time that they are ineffective. What keeps us where we are is, having the toughest, best equipped military force on the planet. If that stops, we become a target for many other countries.