Is the U.S. Military a Paper Tiger?

Asia Times (Thailand)

04 April 2017

Richard A. Bitzinger

A recent public opinion poll in China shows just how delusional some people can be: Of the almost 1,500 respondents, 87% believed that Beijing already has the military capacity to oust Japan from the Senkaku/Daioyu islands. Nearly as many — 85.6% — feel that China is powerful enough to enforce its claims over the South China Sea.

Moreover, three-quarters of those polled said they believe that China would prevail, even if the United States intervened militarily.

Boy, I’ll have what they’re having.

Interestingly, there are many Americans who believe the same thing. In fact, it is an article of faith among conservatives in the United States that the US military has been starved into near-extinction by reckless actions undertaken by the Obama administration.

One of their favorite mantras has centered on the so-called “hollowing-out” of the military: that irresponsible defense spending cuts have emaciated the military, both in terms of personnel and equipment, and have delayed procurement, maintenance, and training. All this has left the US military too weak to defend the country or its national interests.

… Richard A. Bitzinger is a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The opinions expressed here are his own.

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