tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422299.post2915142657127086311..comments2023-08-23T23:53:58.164-04:00Comments on <a href="http://paulstokes.blogspot.com">The Stokes Kith and Kin Community Blog</a>: Somehow the President Missed the Patrick O'Brian SeriesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422299.post-54643105147369979732012-03-14T16:11:03.105-04:002012-03-14T16:11:03.105-04:00President Obama may bear some of the responsibilit...President Obama may bear some of the responsibility, but as someone who reads this stuff every day, the more likely culprits are the Pentagon, Congress and industry (the Iron Triangle evolution of Eisenhower's military-industrial complex).<br /><br />everything has moved toward more expensive, ostensibly more capable platforms. we ended up with just over 100 F-22 air superiority fighters. the end number of F-35s we will see drops every day the program flounders.<br /><br />there was some reaction against this trend to more, bigger and costlier as we nation-built in Afghanistan and Iraq, where we needed more troops and more systems with less capability (like small UAVs for intel and MRAPs to counter IEDs).<br /><br />however, now there's major backlash. we failed (at least to some extent), so everyone hates nation-building and wants to go back to big systems again. this will be 'empowered' by the stated strategic shift to the Pacific to counter China.<br /><br />the problem in the Navy was supposed to be addressed by the LCS -- more, cheaper ships. but, guess what happened? the development was mismanaged and they're over budget and very late.<br /><br />this goal for the Navy is very worthwhile. but lots of almost intractable forces have been working against it. and we do need to save money. to me, the Obama Administration's plans for cuts are reasonable. but every Congressperson whose district/state is affected is screaming bloody murder.<br /><br />how's that response? more than you bargained for ;-)Sean Meadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065687969605540072noreply@blogger.com