We Need to Strengthen Our Military. Thoughts?

We need a new military to meet the new threats of the 21st Century. Today's American military is the best in the world, but tomorrow's military must be even better. It must be stronger, faster, better armed.

Expand America's active duty forces.

Add 40,000 new soldiers to sustain our overseas deployments and prevent and prepare for other possible conflicts.

We need to create a "New Total Force," a military prepared to defeat any enemy, at any time, in any place.

We also need more military police, because public order is critical to establishing the conditions that allow peace to take hold.

We need the best possible equipment. We can't have a 21st century military unless we're using 21st century technology and preparing our forces for 21st century threats. That means educating, training, and arming every soldier with state-of-the-art equipment, whether body armor or weapons. It also means employing the most sophisticated communications to help our troops prevail and protect themselves in battle. Every soldier in every unit should have access to technology that can mean the difference between life and death.

Build and train new forces equipped with the most-sophisticated technology to specialize in finding, securing, and destroying weapons of mass destruction and the facilities that build them.

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Thoughts?

EDIT: See my post below on who really wrote what I posted above.

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hlpflwthat · M

This was a lot easier to swallow in 2004. Despite our president declaring 'Mission accomplished' it was becoming clear that we had(again?) underestimated the size & scope of our invasion. We were not lacking militarily. We were very easily able to destroy Iraq - and many would tell you we have. They'd get no quarrel from me.

We were unable to lead. We were reactive - not proactive. We had no Marshall Plan at the ready. Instead, we watched like deer in the headlights as the riches & treasures of an ancient civilization and society were plundered and leveled.

More than a few of us feel we were not given a clear account of intelligence available going into Iraq. Many say that our intelligence was, in fact, ignored. Sound at all familiar?

And on the off chance we actually think we're not dedicating enough to defense, we'll be happy to learn that annual defense spending has climbed 50% since 2004.

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

@hlpflwthat do you know what mission accomplished means? I love when clueless people critique something they don’t understand.

hlpflwthat · M

I do! And I'm also experienced at ignoring vapid snark. But since we're doing random insults, here's a big old cup of go-fuck-yourself. :)

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@hlpflwthat

And on the off chance we actually think we're not dedicating enough to defense, we'll be happy to learn that annual defense spending has climbed 50% since 2004.

U.S. economy was about half the size in 2004 that it is now.

Not necessarily saying we need a huge boost, but the Russians and Chinese are spending much more, too.

AnneHoney · 41-45, F

Funny how one minute Putin is this dangerous guy, the next we should stop spending on the military. I just love discussing things with people that have zero knowledge and very little brain power.

Yes stop fixing our planes and ships who needs them. Stop paying soldiers, why should they get paid. Let ISIS take over, they are kind people who only want the best.

Let that little retard rocket man have nukes and missles and fire on Japan. We don’t need the Japanese anyway.

hlpflwthat · M

@beckyromero I'd love to see your source for that estimation - are you using something other than GDP? Who has claimed that today's GDP is twice what it was in 2004?