As experts on both sides of the aisle are becoming alarmed at the decreasing state of battle readiness in our military, as ‘woke-ness‘ and cultural training is being favored over Naval combat and ship-handling, House Democrat-Socialists are fighting to decrease our Defense budget year over year. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, China is building up its Naval capabilities at an increasing pace. Their eyes are set on becoming a blue-water Naval power with the ability to project their influence on a global scale. Even Russia is nearly finished modernizing its previously outdated forces. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is sounding the alarm over Democrats placing our underfunded military on a collision course with a rising China and a resurgent Russia. And he’s not alone.
Sen. Shelby told the Senate Committee on Appropriations,
“The National Defense Strategy provides a road map for what the Department of Defense needs – at a minimum – to meet the challenges posed by a re-emergence of long-term strategic competition with China and Russia,” explained Shelby. “Anything less jeopardizes readiness, the recapitalization of capital assets, and necessary investments in new and emerging technologies.”
“The world is a complex and dangerous place and I know that you both understand the magnitude of the challenges we face from our near peer adversaries who seek to undermine the United States’ position as a world leader and dominant military power. China and Russia are formidable adversaries and China, as you have acknowledged Secretary Austin, is proving to be a true pacing threat. China seeks hegemony – militarily, technologically, economically, and geopolitically – and is making unprecedented investments to see that to fruition.”
“Meanwhile, Russia is nearing the end of a massive military modernization program that saw its defense spending increase 30 percent in real dollars over the last 10 years,” he added.
Oblivious To The Alarm Blaring Or Negligent
In a true surprise, Senator Shelby has been recently joined in raising the alarm by none other than the Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats headed up by Congressmen Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ). The Coalition sent a scathing letter to the House Armed Services Committee, absolutely slamming their fellow more far-left Democrats who are calling for a net-decrease year-over-year in defense spending.
DefenseNews reported,
“Leaders of the House’s Blue Dog Coalition say they oppose calls to fund any less than the requested $753 billion national defense budget for fiscal 2022 — which included $715 billion for the Pentagon. The stance adds fuel to an already complicated budget debate, where Democrats are split and key Republicans are pushing for a boost.
“We believe this is a strong and sensible funding request, and we oppose calls to authorize or appropriate funding below this level,” the six lawmakers said in a June 24 letter to leaders of the House Armed Services Committee and House Appropriations Committee.”
Reps. Sherrill and O’Halleran were joined by Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL); Ed Case (D-HI); Abigail Spanberger (D-VA); and Kurt Schrader (D-OR). This group of six is going to be critical in the upcoming budget negotiations in the very narrowly held Democrat-run House. Nancy Pelosi can only afford to lose four votes with her 220-211 majority and if she caves to the likes of Reps. Mark Pocan, AOC and the Squad and pushes to decrease Defense spending compared to 2020 figures, she’ll lose this one.
