[kjellsbells]

There's no shortage of national security and military analysis talent in the US. There is a gigantic shortage of intestinal fortitude in the politicians.

The Army tried reducing the sizeof their tank force, and had to back down after screams from Congress because it would have meant job losses in some representative's district. The US poured money into the strike fighter and littoral ship projects, despite the brass telling them it was the wrong approach. And so on. (I suspect this is one reason why Anduril have been successful, since they have fewer sacred cows that must be fed.)

Now we are in a timeline where the top brass are being ejected unless they toe the Party line. I am not optimistic that this will lead to better outcomes in terms of our ability to win against adversaries.

[vgchh]

Ultimately, it's an internal battle. A battle of bureaucracy+ignorance vs democracy+optimism+innovation. The side that weighs more wins. And the adversaries are hoping it's the former.

[torlok]

Sorry, are you suggesting that the US top brass wants less of something, but the politicians won't let them? That the US top brass would reform and modernize the military if only politicians wouldn't get in the way? Is this April Fools?

[kjellsbells]

No,I'm not suggesting that at all. Some of the brass love spending the taxpayers money on new toys. I'm saying that one control mechanism for them not being able to do that, namely, an effective Congress, is totally AWOL and captured in that regard. And re: the policy/planning types that work with them, the good ones have been defenestrated in the last 15 months or are not in a position to do anything like their best work if there is any risk it will differ from the administration's preconceived worldview.