Bigger budgets won't solve the Pentagon's problems — and could make them worse
BY BRYAN CLARK AND DAN PATT, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS — 03/10/22 12:00 PM EST 180THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has lawmakers and former defense officials of both parties calling for higher defense budgets to address Moscow’s escalating aggression and China’s continued threat to U.S. allies. The Biden administration’s request for additional funding to beef up U.S. military posture in Europe suggests the White House may agree, potentially heralding a shift for the Pentagon, which was reportedly expecting an inflation-adjusted budget cut in fiscal year 2023.
U.S. defense spending certainly should not shrink relative to inflation, given the rising challenges from China and Russia. But proponents of a higher Pentagon topline need to go beyond simply demanding a bigger and newer version of today’s force. The U.S. military needs to dramatically change what it buys and how it fights to deter aggression in the 21st century. Unfortunately, a several-percent defense budget windfall could be just enough to convince Pentagon leaders that change is not needed and the U.S. military can counter Russia and China by growing their existing force of large and expensive manned multi-mission ships, aircraft and ground vehicles.
Like a family with more jet skis than college funds, the Pentagon should view higher defense budgets as an opportunity to change and invest in a new American way of war. Gone are the days when the U.S. military could dictate the terms of a conflict and amass forces in relatively safe areas nearby. Despite defense officials long highlighting the challenges posed by “anti-access” missile systems, their budgets still favor platforms without the reach to fight from outside enemy weapons range and too costly to risk inside, where Chinese or Russian precision-guided missiles could overwhelm the defenses of ponderous U.S. platforms and troop formations. And bombers or aircraft carriers are of little use opposing the gray-zone or hybrid tactics Russia and China use against NATO, Japan or Australia.
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/597291-bigger-budgets-wont-solve-the-pentagons-problems-and-could-make
