Article Published in Business Week
In “The Pentagon: High-Tech Dreams, Low-Tech Wars (April 19),” he reported that the U.S. military is caught between buying new high-tech gear for tomorrow’s wars, while not having enough munitions and spare parts to handle today’s Kosovos and Iraqs. But the prescription — sacrifice readiness tomorrow for readiness today — is off-target.
The Pentagon should not have to choose. Sometime since the Cold War ended, Washington sold America on this flawed idea, the ill-effects of which we read about: overworked troops and equipment. The fact is, the U.S. military straddles two jobs. First, be ready to win today’s wars. Second, always enlist, train and equip troops properly so they can win unexpected wars in the future.
The gear U.S. servicemen and women use today was built 10-25 years ago. Likewise, the new aircraft carriers, fighters and submarines we are buying today will be defending this country long past the retirement of today’s troops. Military superiority is not something that once gained can never be lost. History is littered with once-powerful nations which forgot that. Let’s not join them.
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