Quote:As someone that works directly with the military, I can tell you that you are flat out wrong.  Our military is not only decreasing in numbers, but it's also declining in culture.  That could be a whole other thread, but if you think that today's military is "feared" throughout the world you are wrong.  What is more important, if you think that our military right now is "up to the task" should a conflict start, you would probably be shocked to see how bad it is.

 

Ponder this for a bit, and maybe do some research.  Why are the Russians putting aircraft into Syria?  Why is Russia invading Ukraine and why have we not done anything to stop it?

 

Do you think that Vladimir Putin is really afraid of the U.S. military right now?

 

The numbers are decreasing yet the budget remains static. That tells me extremely poor management. How will pumping more money or firepower into the military restore culture? That isn't a budgetary problem or a size problem. That is a leadership problem. The current leadership is terrible and management of the military is horrible. This is coming from someone who was in the US Air Force, Active and Guard, for 8 years. I have been overseas and worked with multinational coalitions. They absolutely recognize that the US is by and large the most powerful military entity on this planet.

 

Now, as to why the Russians are putting aircraft in Syria? Because Russia supports Assad. Personally, I think the US should support Assad as well rather than the radical Islamic terrorists he is fighting. Russia is protecting their national interests as well as broadcasting their geopolitical presence in the Middle East. Why are they doing that? Because the United States is not. Why are they invading the Ukraine? First, the Crimean populace voted for it. Second, because the US has not told Russia to stop. No one has actually negotiated with Putin to even try and stop him. Failed leadership 100%. Vladimir Putin is not afraid of the US because, like I said, the leadership. You put a strong negotiator like Trump in their and I absolutely believe he could make Putin back down. He could do it without shutting down communications and starting a cold war with Russia.

---