U.S. Navy Stretched Trying To Handle Both China And Iran At The Same Time

The Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge, center, prepares to conduct a replenishment at sea with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, left, and the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, right, in the Arabian Gulf, March 6, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans

Navy Strains To Handle Both China And Iran At Once -- Aol Defense

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: Coping with China and Iran at the same time is stretching the Navy thin, and it will soon have to choose which theater to prioritize, warned Peter Daly, the recently retired admiral who now heads the prestigious US Naval Institute.

The Obama administration's new strategic guidance said the US would boost its presence in the Pacific as it drew down in the Middle East, but subsequent statements have qualified that as a "pivot to Asia." The first problem is the force isn't truly fungible: it's mainly ground troops coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq, while the Pacific requires mainly ships and long-range airpower. The second problem is that Iran isn't cooperating.

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My Comment: For as long as I can remember, the U.S. has always had a policy and the infrastructure to be able to handle two major conflicts at the same time. However .... with budget and resources being cut ..... coupled with 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan .... this ability to handle more than one major crisis is not realistic .... a situation that Pentagon planners are probably figuring out right now.