We've also gone from once having four carrier capable builders too one and that in itself is disturbing. Take a map of Tidewater Opps area {Norfolk} and draw a 10-20 mile radius around N.O.B. Norfolk. This is general knowledge so I'll post it. We have N.O.B. and five carrier piers. {only three carrier piers up till sometime in the eighties with a larger carrier force during that time}. Up river there is Norfolk Naval Shipyards, out on the beach we have Little Creek Amphib Base and Oceana N.A.S. Then across the river from N.O.B. is Newport News Ship building our sole carrier builder left. That can literally mean most east coast assets could be gone in one attack.
Ok here is another issue. We do not have the infrastructure left to build a military hack. The stupid Morons tore down the plants, closed the bases, and sold the land, and shredded the plans like the F-14 project. We are foreign dependent in our national defense. Add to that our presidents both parties who think the U.S. military is a world police service and turning what should be quick in and out operations into a decade or more of a money pit for all their friends.
Don't get me wrong I am not anti-war. Not in the least. My beliefs on how we should fight wars would label me a barbarian in todays PC foreign policy makers and Pentagon. I believe the best defense is a strong standing one you never have to fully use because the enemy understands their destruction will come swiftly and no mercy till unconditional surrender or elimination of the enemy. GITMO would be set up for tribunals and have a firing squad or gallows. The Geneva Treaties should be wipe paper in the Pentagon rest rooms.
I don't disagree for a minute on the dangers of a hollowed-out military.
One can only pray that wise heads have thought these matters through and arrived at solutions which can work over the long run.