Defense Readiness Falls to Carter-Era Lows
Editor's Note: The following article addresses the decline in defense readiness due to lack of maintenance and manning. This concern affects National Security! In addition, there are other situations that need to be detailed for the public including the obvious purge by the Obama administration of top ranking military officers relieved of their commands, the failure to protect American lives as in Benghazi, allowing of radical foreign terrorists on American soil, open borders which are allowing radicals easy access to our country, and the constant push of left-winged social agendas on the military.
by Katie Nielsen: Last summer, after suffering a multitude of mechanical and maintenance issues, the USS Essex failed to complete two missions. The aging U.S. naval vessel had not received proper maintenance for sometime. Rather than investigate why maintenance hadn’t been applied, the Navy dismissed the ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Chuck Litchfield.
This incident brings to question how well the Obama administration is maintaining our nation’s defenses, Heritage Foundation national security expert James Carafano argues. While the specific incident was likely caused by a combination of human error and mechanical failure, it’s indicative of the overall deterioration of our national defenses.
America hasn’t been this unprepared since the Carter administration, Carafano writes in the Washington Examiner. He relates a story from more than three decades ago:
Capt. Tom Shanahan didn’t need a full crew. At least, that’s what the Pentagon told him . . . In fact, the Navy simply didn’t have enough sailors to go around. It was 1979, and Washington was cashing its Vietnam peace dividend, come what may.
A 30 year-veteran, Shanahan knew that when politicians look for a place to shave expenses, “the military is the easiest thing to cut, especially coming out of a war.” But he also saw the results of that impulse first hand.
When it came time to fill out his readiness report, Shanahan felt honor-bound to report his ship wasn’t ready for service—even though it might get him a black mark among the brass. Today, the Obama administration is exhibiting the same disregard for defense readiness that we saw during the Carter administration.
From day one, the Obama administration has neglected our country’s defenses by pushing deep cuts to defense, Carafano argues. And since the administration won’t act, it’s up to Congress to reverse the administration’s disastrous stewardship of the armed forces.
Since national defense is a key constitutional obligation of the federal government, do you think it ought to be given higher priority by our lawmakers?
Tags: Defense Readiness, Carter Era Lows To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
 |
| U.S. defenses have not been invested in for two decades. |
This incident brings to question how well the Obama administration is maintaining our nation’s defenses, Heritage Foundation national security expert James Carafano argues. While the specific incident was likely caused by a combination of human error and mechanical failure, it’s indicative of the overall deterioration of our national defenses.
America hasn’t been this unprepared since the Carter administration, Carafano writes in the Washington Examiner. He relates a story from more than three decades ago:
A 30 year-veteran, Shanahan knew that when politicians look for a place to shave expenses, “the military is the easiest thing to cut, especially coming out of a war.” But he also saw the results of that impulse first hand.
When it came time to fill out his readiness report, Shanahan felt honor-bound to report his ship wasn’t ready for service—even though it might get him a black mark among the brass.
From day one, the Obama administration has neglected our country’s defenses by pushing deep cuts to defense, Carafano argues. And since the administration won’t act, it’s up to Congress to reverse the administration’s disastrous stewardship of the armed forces.
Since national defense is a key constitutional obligation of the federal government, do you think it ought to be given higher priority by our lawmakers?
Tags: Defense Readiness, Carter Era Lows To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 4:35 PM - Post Link
4 Comments:
This is not a surprise. For those of us on active duty in 1970s - 1990s, we saw this a lot. I suspect that by the end of this year, the Army will have two divisions, the AF one fighter wing, and the Navy about 1/3rd of it current warships. "battle ready" to deploy as needed.
Take it back. . .don't show them the door or they know how to return.
I was a Navy wife during the Carter era...he was NOT revered, I might add...the ONLY GOOD thing WE got out of it was..he weakened us so much that they extended our stay in Spain another two years..LOVED that...LOL ..but serving under him as "CIC"...was NOT easy..and I can only imagine how horrible it must be under Obama!!
Commander in chief. Yea right. Obama is Destroying the worlds greatest arm of freedom.
Post a Comment
<< Home