The Patriot Post® · Department of Military Readiness: Are We Ready?

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently said in a speech, “As we look out across the strategic landscape, the United States military will remain an essential tool of American power and foreign policy, but one that must be used wisely, precisely, and judiciously.” The problem is that the commander in chief is not wise, precise or judicious regarding anything to do with military readiness or purpose, opting instead to cut, conduct social engineering experiments and remove God from the equation.

Hagel admitted that Obama’s military spending cuts have left our military in a precarious state. “We may have to accept the reality that not every unit will be at maximum readiness, and some kind of a tiered readiness system is perhaps inevitable,” Hagel said. “This carries the risk that the president would have fewer options to fulfill our national security objectives.” As Brian Slattery of the Heritage Foundation rightly points out, “‘Tiered readiness’ is a term the military uses to rationalize budget cuts without admitting they are less capable as a result.”

Slattery also quotes U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno, who warned, “This is the lowest readiness levels I’ve seen within our Army since I’ve been serving for the last 37 years.” Unfortunately, that lack of readiness is just the kind of “fundamental transformation” Obama seeks – to knock our military and our nation down a few pegs because we’re not really exceptional in the world.

The bottom line is as our first president, George Washington, explained in his First Annual Address: “To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”