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School of War

Ep 146: Eric Edelman and Thomas Mahnken on America’s Defense Strategy Crisis

Sep 24, 2024
Eric Edelman and Thomas Mahnken, defense strategy experts from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discuss crucial insights on America’s military posture. They delve into the evolution of the National Defense Strategy and its implications amid global tensions with China and Russia. The conversation highlights the need for a 'multiple theater force construct' to address diverse threats and argues for increased defense spending to meet modern challenges. Their analysis reveals a pressing call for adaptability in U.S. military capabilities.
45:18

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The U.S. military strategy faces critical insufficiencies in power projection capabilities, necessitating a robust shift to counter escalating global threats.
  • A transition to a multiple-theater force construct is essential for the U.S. to effectively deter simultaneous aggression from multiple adversaries.

Deep dives

Challenges of National Defense Strategy

The ongoing global tensions highlight a critical failure in the United States' military strategy, which lacks the necessary power projection capabilities. Despite multiple strategies and significant budgets, the U.S. has not effectively adapted its military to respond to emerging threats, resulting in a sense of instability both domestically and abroad. The historical precedent of ignoring international conflicts serves as a cautionary tale, advocating against a withdrawal approach that may inadvertently lead to greater conflicts, as was the case in the 20th century. Experts suggest a need for a dramatic shift toward a robust national defense strategy to address these escalating global threats.

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