Losing Military Supremacy

[darkbeaver]

Book Review - Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning by Andrei Martyanov



The fact that the US is facing a profound crisis, possibly the worst one in its history, is accepted by most observers, except maybe the most delusional ones.
When speaking of this crisis, most people will mention the deindustrialization, the drop in real income, the lack of well-paid jobs, healthcare, crime, immigration, pollution, education, and a myriad of other contributing factors. But of all the aspects of the “American dream”, the single most resilient one has been the myth of the US military as “the finest fighting force in history”.
Americans have no experience of real warfare (that is warfare in defense of their own land, family and friends) at all. For Americans warfare is killing the other guy in his own country, preferably from afar or above, while making a ton of money in the process. For Russians, warfare is simply about surviving at any and all cost. The difference couldn’t be greater.

​

 

[Hoid]

American military supremacy has never been so complete

 

[Curious Cdn]

Book Review - Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning by Andrei Martyanov



The fact that the US is facing a profound crisis, possibly the worst one in its history, is accepted by most observers, except maybe the most delusional ones.
When speaking of this crisis, most people will mention the deindustrialization, the drop in real income, the lack of well-paid jobs, healthcare, crime, immigration, pollution, education, and a myriad of other contributing factors. But of all the aspects of the “American dream”, the single most resilient one has been the myth of the US military as “the finest fighting force in history”.
Americans have no experience of real warfare (that is warfare in defense of their own land, family and friends) at all. For Americans warfare is killing the other guy in his own country, preferably from afar or above, while making a ton of money in the process. For Russians, warfare is simply about surviving at any and all cost. The difference couldn’t be greater.

​

One of the big issues that the US faces as a result of their out-of-control Defence budgets is that an increasingly large percentage of their resources is spent on materiel that do not produce any wealth. F-35s are not a wealth creating investment. They draw wealth and and return nothing. You have to do a certain amount of that in a dangerous world but not to the extent that the US has. Out-of-control military expenditure had a lot to do with the end of the Roman Empire, the Soviet Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Second German Reich ... probably Egypt and Babylon, for that matter.

 

[darkbeaver]

American military supremacy has never been so complete

A complete fable for certain.

 

[gopher]

darkbeaver


The fact that the US is facing a profound crisis, possibly the worst one in its history, is accepted by most observers, except maybe the most delusional ones.

No, no, no, no. We have no such problem. After all the Savior is in the White House.

A complete fable for certain.

Your idea that the USA military is weak certainly is. Just try to prove it.

 

[Curious Cdn]

Your idea that the USA military is weak certainly is. Just try to prove it.

Strong alliances and friendships will keep you there. Maybe just, both those things are sources of the USA's vast power, too.

The US Navy understands that (See Rimpac 2018.)

U.S. Navy Announces 26th Rim of the Pacific Exercise

Your Prezeedent, not so much.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Book Review - Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning by Andrei Martyanov



The fact that the US is facing a profound crisis, possibly the worst one in its history, is accepted by most observers, except maybe the most delusional ones.
When speaking of this crisis, most people will mention the deindustrialization, the drop in real income, the lack of well-paid jobs, healthcare, crime, immigration, pollution, education, and a myriad of other contributing factors. But of all the aspects of the “American dream”, the single most resilient one has been the myth of the US military as “the finest fighting force in history”.
Americans have no experience of real warfare (that is warfare in defense of their own land, family and friends) at all. For Americans warfare is killing the other guy in his own country, preferably from afar or above, while making a ton of money in the process. For Russians, warfare is simply about surviving at any and all cost. The difference couldn’t be greater.

​

On the other hand, Russia hasn't fought a major war since 1945, unless you count Afghanistan and Chechnya, two wars in which Russia performed very badly.

 

[darkbeaver]

On the other hand, Russia hasn't fought a major war since 1945, unless you count Afghanistan and Chechnya, two wars in which Russia performed very badly.

Suggest the major war that you suppose the USA might have engaged in, and the USSR fought in both Afghanistan and Chechnya not the Russia.

And now for your reading unenjoyment.

The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation By Charles Hugh Smith
July 09, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Dividing the Earth's nations into 1st, 2nd and 3rd world has fallen out of favor; apparently it offended sensibilities. It has been replaced by the politically correct developed and developing nations, a terminology which suggests all developing nations are on the pathway to developed-nation status.

What's been lost in jettisoning the 1st, 2nd and 3rd world categories is the distinction between developing (2nd world) and dysfunctional states (3rd world), states we now label "failed states."
But 3rd World implied something quite different from "failed state": failed state refers to a failed government of a nation-state, i.e. a government which no longer fulfills the minimum duties of a functional state: basic security, rule of law, etc.
3rd World referred to a nation-state which was dysfunctional and parasitic for the vast majority of its residents but that worked extremely well for entrenched elites who controlled most of the wealth and political power. Unlike failed states, which by definition are unstable, 3rd World nations are stable, for the reason that they work just fine for the elites who dominate the wealth, power and machinery of governance. The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation
Here are the core characteristics of dysfunctional but stable states that benefit the entrenched few at the expense of the many, i.e. 3rd World nations:
1. Ownership of stocks and other assets is highly concentrated in entrenched elites. The average household is disconnected from the stock market and other measures of wealth; only a thin sliver of households own enough financial/speculative wealth to make an actual difference in their lives.
2. The infras

 

[Hoid]

Russia cannot even defeat the Ukraine which has no military.

Anyone placing the Russians in the SuperPower category is sadly out of date.

So even if the US military declines in the absolute sense, relative to the row they are stronger than they gave ever been.

If Trump wants to with draw from conflicts around the world that America is largely responsible for then that will be a good thing for everyone.

 

[darkbeaver]

Russia cannot even defeat the Ukraine which has no military.

Anyone placing the Russians in the SuperPower category is sadly out of date.

So even if the US military declines in the absolute sense, relative to the row they are stronger than they gave ever been.

If Trump wants to with draw from conflicts around the world that America is largely responsible for then that will be a good thing for everyone.

Ukraine is not involved in a conflict with Russia or it would already have ceased to be. Crimea separated from Ukraine democratically and there is nothing Kiev can do about it except stupidly lose what they still have. Read the article and others and you might understand what has happened to that nation, it,s been systematically emptied and now they have inescapable debt which the nations elite looters will leave to the general American tax payer to tend. It,s an old game but it still works, almost every time.

F-35s anyone?

 

[Bar Sinister]

Suggest the major war that you suppose the USA might have engaged in, and the USSR fought in both Afghanistan and Chechnya not the Russia.

And now for your reading unenjoyment.

The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation By Charles Hugh Smith
July 09, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Dividing the Earth's nations into 1st, 2nd and 3rd world has fallen out of favor; apparently it offended sensibilities. It has been replaced by the politically correct developed and developing nations, a terminology which suggests all developing nations are on the pathway to developed-nation status.

What's been lost in jettisoning the 1st, 2nd and 3rd world categories is the distinction between developing (2nd world) and dysfunctional states (3rd world), states we now label "failed states."
But 3rd World implied something quite different from "failed state": failed state refers to a failed government of a nation-state, i.e. a government which no longer fulfills the minimum duties of a functional state: basic security, rule of law, etc.
3rd World referred to a nation-state which was dysfunctional and parasitic for the vast majority of its residents but that worked extremely well for entrenched elites who controlled most of the wealth and political power. Unlike failed states, which by definition are unstable, 3rd World nations are stable, for the reason that they work just fine for the elites who dominate the wealth, power and machinery of governance. The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation
Here are the core characteristics of dysfunctional but stable states that benefit the entrenched few at the expense of the many, i.e. 3rd World nations:
1. Ownership of stocks and other assets is highly concentrated in entrenched elites. The average household is disconnected from the stock market and other measures of wealth; only a thin sliver of households own enough financial/speculative wealth to make an actual difference in their lives.
2. The infras

Vietnam. I'd say the commitment of 500,000 troops was a major war. But what is your point, I was not discussing the US military. Are you saying that the Russian military is better than its recent performance?

Ukraine is not involved in a conflict with Russia or it would already have ceased to be. Crimea separated from Ukraine democratically and there is nothing Kiev can do about it except stupidly lose what they still have. Read the article and others and you might understand what has happened to that nation, it,s been systematically emptied and now they have inescapable debt which the nations elite looters will leave to the general American tax payer to tend. It,s an old game but it still works, almost every time.

F-35s anyone?

Russia's intended goal was the annexation of the entire Black Sea coast, leaving Ukraine landlocked. That did not happen even with the help of Russian troops posing as freedom fighters.



And you need to redefine your use of the term Third World. The term is actually out of date and has been replaced by the term "developing nation." In any case, the USA is far from a developing nation. It is a nation beset with problems of its own making to be sure, but it is not developing.

 

[gopher]

''The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation''


Evidently, Smith intended that as an April Fool joke.

 

[Curious Cdn]

''The USA Is Now a 3rd World Nation''


Evidently, Smith intended that as an April Fool joke.

We'll send aid, don't you worry.

We all know that there are millions of starving children in West Virginia who would just love to tuck into a steaming bowl of poutine.

 

[gopher]

We'll send aid, don't you worry.

We all know that there are millions of starving children in West Virginia who would just love to tuck into a steaming bowl of poutine.

that's what we really need in the States ~ poutine chow houses in every neighborhood

 

[darkbeaver]

Development moves in at least two directions.

 

[gopher]

USA needs to take a few lessons from Canada, so let's summarize ~ here in the States we need,


¶ poutine houses in every town

¶ a Tim Horton franchise is every corner

¶ re-runs of "Sgt Preston" & "Littlest Hobo" every week on nationwide tv

¶ film fests of "Trailer Park Boys" & "Renfrew of the Royal Mounted Police" movies

¶ ban the phrase "Blame Canada"

¶ change the national symbol to Canadian Geese

¶ make lacrosse the national sport




Any more constructive ideas on the subject ?

 

[Walter]

Kaboom!

 

[darkbeaver]

USA needs to take a few lessons from Canada, so let's summarize ~ here in the States we need,


¶ poutine houses in every town

¶ a Tim Horton franchise is every corner

¶ re-runs of "Sgt Preston" & "Littlest Hobo" every week on nationwide tv

¶ film fests of "Trailer Park Boys" & "Renfrew of the Royal Mounted Police" movies

¶ ban the phrase "Blame Canada"

¶ change the national symbol to Canadian Geese

¶ make lacrosse the national sport




Any more constructive ideas on the subject ?

That,s not Canada.

 

[Hoid]

military superiority is moot when you lack a commander in chief

 

[gopher]

^ especially one with bone spurs