
<p>Maybe not. ; Probably not.</p>



<p>One President after another brags that America has the strongest military in the world – even those presidents unwilling to use it when necessary. ; Consequently, the “strongest military in the world” has not won a war since World War II – unless you count our incursions into Panama and Belize (In case you do not recall those brief battles, we ousted Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and put down a Commie effort to topple the U.S.-friendly government in Belize).</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The theory that the U.S. still has the strongest military on earth may no longer be true. </h4>



<p>And that is significant in terms of overall world leadership. President Teddy Roosevelt put it simply – “speak softly and carry a big stick.” That “stick” is the military.</p>



<p>No nation can exert world economic, political or moral leadership without superior military capability. ; Successful diplomacy is predicated on the military option – as a credible threat or a reality.</p>



<p>During occasional dinners with President Reagan’s Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger some years ago, he would convey to me that America needed a “two war capability” to maintain world leadership and national security. </p>



<p>He said that if we were in a war in the Middle East – and only had the military resources to fight one war – every other adversarial nation – such as Russia, China, North Korea and even Cuba – would engage in international expansionism and aggression against the interests of the United States. </p>



<p>Weinberg feared back then that America was losing its two-war capability – hence the Reagan military build-up and arms race with Russia, our most dangerous adversary at the time. ; The strategy was successful – and the old Soviet Union was dismantled. ; For a period, the United States military was far superior to any other nation on earth.</p>



<p>Today, many military experts believe that we have ceded military dominance to China. ; They have a larger Navy and Air Force than the United States. ; While we have a number of warships in the Asian waters, China has more than enough ballistic capability to take them out of commission within minutes.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The folks at the Pentagon – who run various war scenarios through their computers – have made an alarming assessment. </h4>



<p>In a full-scale war with China, we would likely lose. That’s right. The allegedly most powerful military on earth cannot be guaranteed to win a war against one enemy – much less more than one.</p>



<p>Military experts also contend that Iran has developed such a large modern military, that it would be too costly for the United States to engage in a real war with Tehran.</p>



<p>For several decades, the United States lacked the will to EFFECTIVELY engage our military. This resulted in long wars of attrition, but no victories. ; Today, we appear to lack more than the will – but the very resources. ; Every nation on earth – allies and adversaries – now know that America cannot even make a credible threat of military action to enforce our national policies.</p>



<p>The Chinese can and will continue to build man-made island military installations and claim hegemony over the South China Sea. They can <a href="https://punchingbagpost.com/its-over-china-takes-over-hong-kong-elections/">crush the democracy movement</a> in Hong Kong with impunity. Despite our longstanding defense treaty with Taiwan – both China and Taiwan know that the U.S. does not have the resolve or the ability to stop any China aggression.</p>



<p>Russia can extend its influence in the Middle East without fear of American reprisal. ; North Korea and Iran can pursue their nuclear ambitions – knowing that we will not be able to stop them. ; They ignore all agreements because they know we cannot enforce them.</p>



<p>As a nation, America can debate and bluster in the diplomatic venues. But we are no longer the nation with the biggest stick.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Does the U.S. Really Have the Strongest Military?
