The Train Wreck is Here, Now

The Train Wreck Is Here, Now

By Paul Connors

The years of neglect and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have finally netted the U.S. Armed Forces what those in the know have been warning about for years, namely massive equipment shortages that will require costly re-capitalizations. The service most immediately affected, that also faces the most near term adverse effects is the U.S. Army.

The ostrich-like ignorance and repudiation of a very real need for continued defense appropriations and acquisition is the dual responsibility of both the executive and legislative branches of the government and blame is not the purview of any one administration. The melt-down started during the latter part of the first Bush administration, continued with a vengeance under the Clinton administration and despite the attacks of 9/11 and added global responsibilities for the U.S. military, stayed on its disastrous course in the current administration. In the latter case, the blame needs to be apportioned equally between the administration and Congress; the administration, because the President chose and retained a complete failure as his first Secretary of Defense and the Congress for continuing to “nickel and dime” procurement of vitally needed hardware.

I am not talking about the huge outlays needed for aircraft like the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II (the Joint Strike Fighter), programs conceived during the waning days of the Cold War. What I am talking about are the less glamorous programs that are just as vital, namely the need for new aerial refueling aircraft that extend the reach of our fighters, bombers and transports, viable body armor for the troops engaged in close combat, vehicles of all sorts and finally, a better, more hard-hitting main-battle rifle.