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Pentagon plans to shrink US Army to pre-WWII level

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Revmitchell

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We need to also understand the reason Obama is destroying our military is not to save money, it is not for efficiency, it is to revert the money to expand entitlement programs and expand his Marxist agenda.
 

Revmitchell

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Also doing this will most likely exacerbate the need to use atomic weapons in the future because we will have fewer experienced military personel and it will be much harder to win needful wars. So we will have to rely on atomic weapons like we did in WWII
 

Don

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So if a 450,000 man ground force is not big enough, how big would be? I assume since your knowledge of history so far out shines mine that you can teach me something about how big of a ground force is big enough in 2014. We are at about 500,000 now - should that be 750,000 to be safe? A million?
Last I checked, the Chinese say they have 1.4 million troops....

I am not sure how we are supposed to 'fight Islam' with ground troops. It is a new type of enemy, even if ti is acknowledged that Islam is an enemy, with new strategies needed to fight the war. Where are we supposed to put the boots on ground?

The reason we had so many problems at the beginning of Afghanistan--and still have, and are the same reasons the Russians had so many problems in Afghanistan--is because of terrain. We could send a drone for an aerial strike ... and they could hide in the mountains, in the caves, etc., etc., that absolutely require boots-on-ground to deal with.
 

Don

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I doubt that we will need a draft. The military turns away more qualified (by regulation) men and women than they accept. For more than a decade the military has set the bar to enlist much higher than is required. Recruiters realize that the easiest time to recruit for a military service is at the onset of a conflict and when recruitment is low or approaching critical, services lower the standard to regulatory guidelines.

In a time of national crisis, such as WWII or 9/11, I totally agree.

Then there was that whole Viet Nam thing....
 

NaasPreacher (C4K)

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Last I checked, the Chinese say they have 1.4 million troops....







The reason we had so many problems at the beginning of Afghanistan--and still have, and are the same reasons the Russians had so many problems in Afghanistan--is because of terrain. We could send a drone for an aerial strike ... and they could hide in the mountains, in the caves, etc., etc., that absolutely require boots-on-ground to deal with.


You really think there is an occasion where the US is going to need to go toe to toe with China on some massive battlefield?

Never implied we don't need any ground troops. Only that 450,000 ground troops is plenty in today's world.

How are we supposed to pay for 750,000 ground troops to wait around for a war?
 

preachinjesus

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These cuts are necessary and will be helpful.

With the changing nature of warfare and the expansive developments of technology, we can provide a better military force that is both cheaper and just as adequate with less troops.

Frankly, if we hasn't wasted billion and billions of dollars on two unnecessary conflicts in one region over the past 12 years we could have done this long ago. No other military that exists in any country can stand up to our military even at these reduced rates. We have more resources and more capabilities, even when scaled back like they will be, to annihilate any aggressor who attacks en masse.

The real challenge is the the guy with a dirty bomb driving around a major city. That is the real threat.

Overall, the cost savings and better facilitation of a modern military will improve our forces.
 

JonC

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No other military that exists in any country can stand up to our military even at these reduced rates. We have more resources and more capabilities, even when scaled back like they will be, to annihilate any aggressor who attacks en masse.


I am curious.

How do you come to the conclusion that our military will remain at such a superior level in comparison to other countries even when it is cut to pre-WWII levels?
 
I am curious.

How do you come to the conclusion that our military will remain at such a superior level in comparison to other countries even when it is cut to pre-WWII levels?
Ah, excellent question, Jon. The simple, truthful answer? "It can't."

We face tremendous challenges in a shadow war against Islamic terrorists.

We face the renewed threat of a neo-Soviet hegemony coveted by Vladimir Putin.

We face the adventurism and stepped-up military capability of a Chinese giant with unknown and/or misunderstood cravings for new-found power and respect.

We face the evil nuclear intent of a North Korea run by a mad man, and an Iran run by a religious fanatic dedicated to his false prophet's clear call for world domination.

We face multiple tin pot dictators around the world whose saber-rattling often becomes invasion or ethnic cleansing, funded by illegal arms brokers and drug lords.

Our response? Cut the military. Makes perfect sense. :rolleyes:

... If you're a closet Marxist dictator dedicated to the destruction of the country you have taken an oath to uphold and defend.
 

kyredneck

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...and Netanyahu would smile; such masterful fear mongering, yea Bibi would be proud of you.
 
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shodan

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This move only continues to show that Obama is an extremist who wants to tear down the strengths of this country. We will certainly be less less safe.

Yes, Obama is an extremist, etc. BUT this is about a bankrupt country that needs to get its financial house in order. There is no strength in a load of debt.
 
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Revmitchell

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Yes, Obama is an extremist, etc. BUT this is about a bankrupt country that needs to get its financial house in order.


We do need to get our finances in order. But that is not what this is about. It is about Obama's far left agenda which he would do regardless of America's finances.
 

carpro

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Washington (AFP) - The Pentagon plans to scale back the US Army by more than an eighth to its lowest level since before World War II, signaling a shift after more than a decade of ground wars.

Saying it was time to "reset" for a new era, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended shrinking American forces from 520,000 active duty troops to between 440,000 and 450,000.

In a speech outlining the proposed defense budget, he said Monday that after Iraq and Afghanistan, US military leaders no longer plan to "conduct long and large stability operations."

If approved by Congress, the Pentagon move would reduce the army to its lowest manning levels since 1940, before the American military dramatically expanded after entering World War II.


http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-prop...-183915098.html;_ylt=AwrTWf1X8gtTyCsAGVTQtDMD

We'll be looking at another reprise of 1980 somewhere down the line.

After the military was gutted by Carter either on purpose or through purposeful neglect, Reagan had to spend billions to put it back in shape.

It'll happen again.
 

Crabtownboy

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I was talking with a friend here who is very active in state politics. He talks often to very influential people. He made the prediction that no matter which party controls Congress or the White House the next election the military budget will be cut substantially. He said the current level cannot be sustained, that no matter who is in office they are going to have to make some deep cuts in the military budget. It does not have to do with political philosophy. Rather it has to do with economic reality.

This is just round one. Round two, three, four will be in the next few years ... and remember it does not matter who is in office, they will be forced to make cuts.
 

just-want-peace

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Folks, I'm afraid that this is going to be a moot point; just MHO, of course.
I see this nation on the cusp of judgement by God, and if that is true, then we are doomed regardless of our military situation.
That being said, I do think that it is sheer stupidity to "cut the budget" (?) by decimating the military, only to have twice (?) the savings spent on GREEN energy, or more/bigger checks for the indolent, or what ever seems to float the liberal garbage scow at the moment!!!!!
 

preachinjesus

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I am curious.

How do you come to the conclusion that our military will remain at such a superior level in comparison to other countries even when it is cut to pre-WWII levels?

Because our technology out ranks all the other countries. As one of my friends, who is a retired colonel pointed out to me, its like they're fighting with repeater rifles and we've got Gatling guns. Its not close.

If we look closer at the cuts being considered we see that there are also expansions in place. For instance, drone technology is expanding. That in and of itself allows for multiple units being controlled by a theater control device to stage out engagement so that one airman can control multiple units over the course of several sorties.

Also, go count up how many aircraft carriers the Chinese have vs the US. Then look at the nature and age of their sub fleet vs our subs.

When your closest opponent is fighting with swords and you've got a gun, even if there is more of them, you still win.

For anyone to say North Korea is a threat to anyone other than South Korea is a statement of ignorance. They can't even get a nuke to fly upwards on a consistent basis and rhetoric doesn't power their rockets.

Russia isn't aggressively working on their military for an international conflict because they've got economic issues and terrorism to deal with.

So who's left? The reality is that a reduced force is a wise management of our budget dollars in light of crushing domestic issues that should have been handled years ago. There is zero reason to field such a force this size right now.

BTW, I am all for instituting a mandatory 2 year draft for all graduating high schoolers. It'll help on a lot of levels and be cheaper than fielding all these existing units in perpituity.
 

Don

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You really think there is an occasion where the US is going to need to go toe to toe with China on some massive battlefield?
Of course not. You think China is going to mobilize their entire 1.5 million troops into one location?

No, it'll be a battle with many fronts. Remember the lesson of how we fought the Japanese in WWII: One island at a time.

And if you don't consider China a threat, you're not paying attention to what's going on around Korea, Japan, and Polynesian Islands.

Never implied we don't need any ground troops. Only that 450,000 ground troops is plenty in today's world.
Your opinion is duly noted. Doesn't mean we agree.

How are we supposed to pay for 750,000 ground troops to wait around for a war?
While at the same time paying for Homeland Security, TSA, other expanded government agencies, etc., etc. that continue to wait for something to happen?

Sure; let's cut the military that's prohibited from conducting civilian-related affairs on our own soil, while we keep the increasingly militarized police agencies that's expected to conduct affairs on our own soil. <tin foil hat tag>
 
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