The US Army Chief of Staff, Mark Milley delivered his remarks before the army's annual meeting on Tuesday in Washington, DC, and said it was the military's aim "to deter war but if deterrents fail we as an army, we as a nation must be prepared to fight."
Comment: Cheer leading for a new war?
General Milley said deterrents were expensive but more expensive was fighting a war, and then fighting and winning a war but most expensive is fighting and losing a war.
"Our readiness to fight a war against a high-end, near peer adversary has eroded in the last 15 years as we fought and continue to fight against terrorists and guerillas in Afghanistan Iraq and elsewhere," said Gen. Milley. "We were highly successful in ripping apart Saddam's military in 1991, ejecting him from Kuwait and we shattered his army in 2003. Similarly, we destroyed the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in very short order."
The general admitted they had problems consolidating gains and adapting to an insurgent fight, and that the army's future was being jeopardized by budget cuts.
Comment: Budget cuts? Despite lack of transparency and accountability, the Pentagon budget is still growing but then again: US House Panel determines $1 trillion needed to reboot military
"Other countries - Russia, China, Iran, North Korea - went to school on us. They closely watched how we fought in '91 and '03. They studied our doctrine, our tactics, our equipment, our organization and our training and our leadership and in turn they revised their own doctrines and they are rapidly modernizing their military today to avoid our strengths and hopes of defeating us at some point in the future," said General Millay.
Comment: Especially how the US arms and trains jihadists as proxy armies.
Gen. Millay said the military had taken a number of steps over the last year to increase "our readiness in the total army," with training and combat readiness.
"I want to be clear to those around the world who want to destroy our way of life, and that of our allies and friends," said Gen. Millay. "The United States military, despite all our challenges, despite our off-tempo, despite everything we have been doing, will stop you, and we will beat you harder than you've ever been beaten before. Make no mistake about that."
Comment: That should inspire America of its 'exceptionalism'. Too bad the results don't match the words. Especially considering the troubles they are having with the F-35 fighter jets, Littoral combat ships and losing the Tank Battle games.
Jump to 27:45 to hear the comments in the video.
Comment: What he doesn't mention is if the US is confronted with multiple 'enemies' like a combined Russia and China. Would the US military even stand a chance?
At 34 mins. Talking about a Russian ambassador's comment about the foundations of world order undergoing a radical change, and Russia being able to win a war in Europe and the USA being dispensable. General blowhard says the US should take that seriously because "Most nations tend to telegraph their strategic intentions"
Apparently being smart enough to lead an arrogant nation into a trap with such "telegraphing" hasn't occurred to General Blowhard