The next U.S. president will inherit a military that hasn’t kept “pace with operational demands” and lacks the “operational depth required to respond to a major crisis,” according to a new study.
While applying America’s military power in ongoing conflicts — and in new ones — the Obama administration failed to make the necessary investments to maintain it. The result is a military pushed to “the ragged edge” of readiness, says the American Enterprise Institute. This, based on a series of March congressional hearings.
Whereas the military is meeting the day’s demands, it “would not be able to handle a major crisis quickly or decisively.” Based on AEI’s findings:
–Only one third of the Army is ready to go to war against a conventional enemy; it wouldn’t be able to respond to two simultaneous conflicts.
–The Marine Corps and Navy, worn down by the high rate of deployments, would struggle to keep up with global demands.
–The Air Force would be pressed to conduct a large-scale campaign of the scope and speed expected by the Pentagon.
Much of the same findings were detailed last year in The Heritage Foundation’s 2016 Index of Military Strength.
After the malaise of the Obama administration, America’s military must restock and restore itself. That must be a priority for America’s next president.
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