America’s Military Is Too Small To Win Wars

MONDAY PDB – When Harris says ‘lethal,' it's a euphemism for ‘cheap.' The Trump and Biden administrations both aimed for a small military too reliant on technology.

In her speech at the Democratic National Convention last month, Kamala Harris promised to “ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.” The term “lethal fighting force” was meant to convey that Harris is serious about national security. But “lethal” has become a euphemism. It means a small force that is overly reliant on technology.

Jim Mattis, President Trump's first defense secretary, wanted to buy deterrence on the cheap by increasing the quality of the armed forces, not their size. Since salaries and benefits consume roughly two-fifths of the Pentagon budget, Mattis substituted new technology and improved professional military education for manpower.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks are also fond of the term “lethal force.”

Both administrations have built the military for one war at a time. They set their strategies so that the U.S. can deter strategic attacks (assaults on vital resources) and direct threats against the homeland. But America is vulnerable to all other attacks.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:       

NATIONAL SECURITY

Russia's espionage war in the Arctic. For years, Russia has been using the Norwegian town of Kirkenes, which borders its nuclear stronghold, as a laboratory, testing intelligence operations there before replicating them across Europe.

HOMELAND SECURITY

The US military vowed to safeguard its arsenal. Why do its weapons keep going missing? The posts on the white supremacy forum ‘Iron March' called for a paramilitary force that would operate as a “modern day SS.” A vision for the group has begun to emerge: buying land in remote, predominantly white areas of the U.S.; networking with locals; stockpiling weapons and supplies; and eventually starting a guerilla race war.

‘Civil War' to make streaming debut on Max this week. The dystopian look at a fractured future America and stars Kirsten Dunst.

BIDEN-HARRIS AFGHAN DISASTER

THE BUCK STOPS WITH BIDEN-HARRIS – House Republicans release report blaming Biden-Harris for disastrous end to US war in Afghanistan. The scathing report on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan minimizes the role of former President Donald Trump, who had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

SHE SAID SHE WAS THE LAST PERSON IN THE ROOM. Partisan Generals come to Harris' defense on Afghanistan. Ten generals and admirals are defending Vice President Kamala Harris from Republican attempts to tie her to the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

McCaul claims ex-ambassador faked Covid test during Afghanistan retreat. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) alleged that the former acting Ambassador to Afghanistan prioritized his own evacuation ahead of embassy staff.

POLITICS

Pentagon chief says a six-month temporary budget bill will have devastating effects on the military.

F-35s, frigates and FRA woes. Can congressional defense hawks make a successful gambit for additional military funding in fiscal 2025?

As Congress returns to DC, so does the threat of a federal shutdown. This one just a few weeks before voters head to the polls.

US POWER OVERSEAS

F-35s land on Finnish highway to drill for future high-intensity wars.

WATCH the Air Force land an F-35 on a highway for the first time.

WATCH Republic of Korea and US Marines rush a beach during a simulated amphibious assault.

Payload offers pay dirt to US paratroopers via a newly restored runway. A U.S. Air Force C-130 Super Hercules packed with Humvees and anti-tank weapons roared onto an Army airstrip surrounded by Bavarian forest, where it supplied airborne troops locked into possibly the most challenging combat drill they'll see all year.

ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST TERROR

DON'T GO INTO A WARZONE TO PROTEST – White House ‘deeply disturbed' after American activist killed in West Bank. The 26-year-old Aysenur Eygi was killed in the Israel-occupied battle zone.

Israeli strikes in Syria leave 14 dead and more than 40 wounded.

IRAN THREAT

US believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim they shot down another US MQ-9 drone. This, marking potentially the latest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance aircraft. The U.S. launched airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory afterward.

Iraqi banks used US-created system to funnel funds to Iran. New York Fed's process to move Baghdad's oil earnings lacked key money-laundering safeguards, resulting in illicit transfers that financed terrorist groups for years.

CHINA THREAT

China announces joint naval, air drills with Russia starting this month. This, underscoring the closeness between their militaries.

China's ‘disappeared' foreign minister demoted to low-level publishing job. Qin Gang, an aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomat, had a meteoric rise and an even faster fall from grace. He's now said to be taking a salary at a Beijing state-run bookseller.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Ukraine's fatal F-16 crash should scare Russia and China. With F-16s, Ukraine's air force is becoming more aggressive and capable.

Two NATO members say Russian drones violated their airspace. One reportedly flew into Romania during nighttime attacks on neighboring Ukraine while another crashed in eastern Latvia the previous day.

US, allies warn of Russian cyber sabotage aimed at disrupting aid to Ukraine. “It is important for organizations to use this information and take immediate action to secure data and mitigate any harm caused by these malicious cyber actors.”

Ukraine weapons: What arms are the UK and other countries supplying? The UK says it will supply Ukraine with 650 more short-range missiles.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Turkish soldier killed in clash in northern Iraq with militants from the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Meanwhile, Turkish airstrikes killed many militants.

US MILITARY

Army aiming for one more hypersonic weapon test by year's end. This, to decide whether to field it next year.

Lighter loads, more boom: The Army is adopting a new shoulder-launched munition. Soldiers will soon train on fewer systems and haul less gear downrange thanks to its adoption of an advanced new shoulder-launched munition.

Army's next budget invests heavily in drone warfare and electronic warfare. This, based on lessons learned from Ukraine's fight against Russia.

Army reveals goals for new, large, long-range drone for surveillance and attack missions in remote locations.

Amphibious ship suffers major breakdown that forces it back to port. This, marking at least the third Navy mechanical issue this year.

Navy commissions new amphibious transport dock USS Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. This, as part of the Navy's Amphibious Multi-Ship Procurement Contract.

Air Force secures its first Replicator system as part of second tranche for the unmanned weapons program.

Everything you need to know about the US military's drone wingman effort. Perhaps no single US Air Force program has gotten as much attention over the last year as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort.

Pentagon to study antibiotic-resistant wounds in Ukraine to plan for future wars.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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