The last time 🇺🇸 fought a two-front war was 1945. At that time, we boasted more than 12 million active duty servicemen and women with a robust defense industrial base (DIB). When we first entered the war, public support at the time showed 91% of Americans in favor declaring war on Germany and Japan. We allied with one dictator to defeat another and were acutely focused on defeating the Nazis and Imperial Japan, before turning our attention to the USSR.
By the end of WWII, 🇺🇸 had 7,600 ships, roughly 300,00 aircraft, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 113% given the war effort. Yet, the world’s greatest generation proved successful and we reaped the benefits of concrete strategy and realism.
Today, we have approximately 1.3 million active duty troops, a debilitated DIB, roughly 500 ships (in which many can’t get out of port), 13,000 aircraft (many which lack critical equipment), and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 123% (absent any major war the past two decades). Moreover, public opinion today shows 42% of Americans believe we ought to stay out of foreign affairs altogether.
Given that, how can anyone truly believe 🇺🇸 is prepared and equipped to fight a three-front war (in 🇺🇦 , 🇮🇱 , and potentially 🇹🇼), when we don’t even have the resources, manpower, and public opinion necessary to fight a one-front war?? Serious question!
The sacrifices 🇺🇸 made during WWII were tremendously high and given the lack of resources, poor economic strength, and quantitative deficits, alongside a weak DIB — it would be suicide to think we are able to do it all.
That is why folks like @ElbridgeColby have suggested an alternative path forward — one rooted in realism that provides an actual strategic vision. We must empower our allies in Europe and MENA to take lead in their respective regions, while 🇺🇸 focuses on denying 🇨🇳 hegemony in Asia.
The victors of WWII and their immediate ideological successors in the Cold War found great success bc of their vision and their ability to make tough decisions. Today we must do the same by first acknowledging our current capabilities and then prioritizing accordingly. Establishing an anti-hegemonic coalition to defeat a power seeking regional hegemony is a strategy that is both tried and true. We did so in WWII and the Cold War. Look how those ended!
If we don’t, we risk losing Asia to a power that is clearly looking to curb 🇺🇸 influence in the world’s leading economic region. It seems the Greatest Generation had a grip on reality that escapes many in the foreign policy establishment of today.
I say we look at the lessons many died to teach us instead of pretending we’re something we’re not, lest we risk taking their sacrifices in vain.
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