Compass Points - Alternate Universe
Hudson Institute will hold an event.
Compass Points - Alternate Universe
Hudson Institute will hold an event.
January 18, 2024
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On the surface, it sounds like a good presentation. Or, perhaps, it is just a journey to some strange, alternate universe?
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On the morning of Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Hudson Institute will sponsor a "Defense Disruptors" presentation and discussion with the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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The event will be hosted by Hudson Institute Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Dan Patt and will focus on "the future of the USMC in a world of increasing competition and confrontation."
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The announcement of the event says so much about the Marine Corps in just a few words. For example, the announcement claims the Marine Corps . . .
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. . . now employs advanced missiles and artillery . . .
-- Hudson Institute
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Is it true the Marine Corps "now employs advanced missiles and artillery?"
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The facts about Navy procurement are in the Navy's PMC Justification Book, link below.
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-- The USMC has no current operational missile capability.
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-- The USMC artillery capability has been reduced by 67%.
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-- The USMC HIMARS rocket system is 7 batteries (42 launchers).
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-- The missiles being acquired are not new or "advanced" missiles. The Navy Strike Missile (NSM) dates from 2007 and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) goes back to the 1970's. The Marine Corps is not scheduled to receive TLAMs until 2025 at the earliest.
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-- The Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) is the maiden ground-based ship killing capability of the US Marine Corps. The first launchers are not scheduled for delivery until FY26.
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-- In related news, the US Army has contracted with BAE Systems to build new M777 light howitzer structures which is likely the first step in restarting the production line for the artillery that has proven so essential in Ukraine. The Marine Corps is not part of this contract.
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In the discussion at the Hudson Institute on 25 January 2024 the hosts might want to ask, where exactly are the Marine Corps' "advanced" missiles? And ask also, if the NMESIS launchers do not arrive until FY26, how could any advanced missile even be launched?
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There are two universes, the alternate universe of power point slides and genteel think tank discussions and the actual universe where Marines need robust combined arms capabilities today.
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Compass Points salutes all those inside the Marine Corps and out who are digging into the details.
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Hudson Institute
Defense Disruptors: A Conversation with General Christopher Mahoney
Event Date: January 25, 2024
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Office of the Secretary of the Navy
PMC Justification Book FY2024
https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/24pres/PMC_Book.pdf
FD-2020 has been based on half truths, deception by omission, denial of reality, wishful thinking and outright lies. In many circles it would constitute fraud, false advertising or simple incompetence. Yet the very individuals who have perpetrated these falsehoods are not called out by name in the desire to have open and professional debates and discussions. This might be acceptable in politics but it is not in business and should not be in matters of national defense. You cannot debate or negotiate where trust is absent or there is a gross lack of integrity. The higher echelons of the Marine Corps, over the last five years, has disgraced itself with duplicity, deception, lies and flights of fancy.
The YouTube footage of the SecNav and General Berger just completely blowing smoke at Senator Sullivan was beyond belief. Basically. We don’t care about your mandates, Title X, the amphibious lift, the poor state of the Navy and Marines so go pound sand Senator. It is hard to believe that a United States Marine Corps Officer, let alone the Commandant could be so arrogantly dismissive of a US Senator. For sure if the purveyors of FD2030 were running a public company and failing to disclose all the financial documentation required these days, the share holders would have them gone, and further if they were fudging the numbers for the 10k’s in any significant way, be looking at some serious legal battles and maybe even jail time. That they think they are above the American taxpayers and don’t anyone any transparency is just too shocking to contemplate let alone process.