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It wouldn't surprise me. I left the Army in disgust in '96, when more than half the tanks in my battalion were deadlined due to a lack of relatively inexpensive parts (according to a mechanic buddy of mine in battalion maintenance). Add to that 113s, M88s, trucks, Humvees, and it was a complete mess. It reminded me of what I had heard about the Carter military, with F-14s that were grounded for lack of $20 parts.

The military has to plan for all contingencies, but ever since the end of the Cold War, our clueless "leaders", military and civilian alike, have seemingly thought that we could never find ourselves in that situation again. For whatever the opinion of a lowly former NCO is worth, I think it's not only possible but likely, in the Middle East this time, as opposed to Europe. Only we'll be trying to face down the assembled armored formations of the Chicoms, Russians and united Muslim world, with our Strykers and whatever tinker-toy platforms they come up with between now and then. God help us! /rant

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

"It wouldn't surprise me. I left the Army in disgust in '96..."

That's about the same time the Army cancelled the M8 Armored Gun System which was slated to replace the 82nd's M551 Sheridans.

IMHO, it would have been an incredibly effective platform for asymmetric operations...

Good post — spot-on target — but can I disagree strongly with just one sentence?

“For whatever the opinion of a lowly former NCO is worth...”

There’s no such thing as a “lowly” NCO.

Thank you for your service, Sir!