Our Shrinking, More Costly Force

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The breaks through the clouds over aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a scheduled port visit at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hawaii, Oct. 1, 2008. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Rialyn Rodrigo

From Armed Forces Journal:

It is common knowledge that the Pentagon is spending more in inflation-adjusted dollars today than at any point since the end of World War II.

The $635 billion appropriated in fiscal 2007 is $31 billion, or 5 percent, above the previous high-water mark of $604 billion in 1952. 2008 will be higher at about $670 billion, and 2009 will likely be more still.

It should also be conventional wisdom — but isn’t — that our military forces are smaller than they have ever been since the end of World War II; major equipment is also, on average, older than it ever has been before; and key elements of our most important fighting forces are not ready for combat. At new highs in spending, all that is an accomplishment of spectacular incompetence — if, indeed, that is the cause.

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My Comment: The numbers are mind boggling.