America's Military Falling Behind, New Report Warns

military falling behind, new report says

According to a new report issued by a bipartisan commission created by Congress, the United States is losing its military edge and could even lose a war against China or Russia should one break out. 

"The U.S. military could suffer unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets in its next conflict,” according to the report, issued Wednesday by the National Defense Strategy Commission. “[The U.S.] might struggle to win, or perhaps lose, a war against China or Russia. The United States is particularly at risk of being overwhelmed should its military be forced to fight on two or more fronts simultaneously."

The report issued by the NDS comes after the committee was created by Congress last year in order to evaluate the Trump Administration's defense strategy. The commission is made up of several former top Republican and Democratic officials selected by Congress and looked at how the Trump administration's order will reshape the military to compete with Beijing and Moscow in a budding multipolar world.

Traditional combat is out the window, according to the report and the U.S. is rapidly falling behind, the authors say. 

"Additionally, it would be unwise and irresponsible not to expect adversaries to attempt debilitating kinetic, cyber, or other types of attacks against Americans at home while they seek to defeat our military abroad,” the authors wrote. "U.S. military superiority is no longer assured and the implications for American interests and American security are severe."

The report endorsed the administration's strategy, but warned the Defense Department wasn't moving fast enough to keep their competitive edge. That's putting America's military dominance at risk, the authors of the report warn. 

The 12-person commission urged Congress and the Trump Administration to consider the NDS report's recommendations and implement them immediately the U.S. is to avoid lasting damage to the national security. 

"We affirm strongly the view that the global role the United States has played for many generations has benefited our nation enormously, and that this role rests upon a foundation of unmatched military power. Today, however, our margin of superiority is profoundly diminished in key areas."

Expert say Russia and China's recent military build-up has been influenced by what the United States has accomplished over the years. 

The report listed 32 recommendations that they feel Congress and the administration should pursue immediately, and pointed out that the strategy relied at times on "questionable assumptions and weak analysis" leaving plenty of "unanswered questions." 

"Some observers have noted—and we agree—that the United States will soon face a national security emergency."

The report also points out that to avoid lasting damage to national security, the U.S. needs to address the challenges they face now, lest Washington have to face the challenges while engaged in combat. 

“It is beyond the scope of our work to identify the exact dollar amount required to fully fund the military’s needs,” the report concluded. “Yet available resources are clearly insufficient to fulfill the strategy’s ambitious goals, including that of ensuring that [the Defense Department] can defeat a major-power adversary while deterring other enemies simultaneously.”

Photo: Getty Images


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