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There's no shortage of national security and military analysis talent in the US. There is a gigantic shortage of intestinal fortitude in the politicians.

The Army tried reducing the sizeof their tank force, and had to back down after screams from Congress because it would have meant job losses in some representative's district. The US poured money into the strike fighter and littoral ship projects, despite the brass telling them it was the wrong approach. And so on. (I suspect this is one reason why Anduril have been successful, since they have fewer sacred cows that must be fed.)

Now we are in a timeline where the top brass are being ejected unless they toe the Party line. I am not optimistic that this will lead to better outcomes in terms of our ability to win against adversaries.

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Sorry, are you suggesting that the US top brass wants less of something, but the politicians won't let them? That the US top brass would reform and modernize the military if only politicians wouldn't get in the way? Is this April Fools?
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Ultimately, it's an internal battle. A battle of bureaucracy+ignorance vs democracy+optimism+innovation. The side that weighs more wins. And the adversaries are hoping it's the former.
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The USA military is losing equipment sitting unprotected on the tarmac 4 years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Your shining city is a polished turd.
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> cheap drones, AI, rapid build-outs

Yet the USA military pay $10,000 for the toilet seat on a cargo plane.

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> unless we pull up socks and innovate, work, work, work and build, build and build.

These days I usually just get AI to do it!

Much more innovative, much more efficient!

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> unless we pull up socks and innovate, work, work, work and build, build and build.

So you can find new way to terrorise the world? Right attitude but wrong application.

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