No. of Recommendations: 3
Which is exactly the same situation we're in. Our mechanics and logistical train and crews are generally right-sized to our existing tank fleet. So if we wanted to add 100 new tanks from scratch - as Germany is doing - we also wouldn't have anyone to send today. Because we don't have entire divisions of tank crews and logistical support waiting around doing nothing on the off chance that we might increase our tank levels by a division or two down the road.
We have deployable forces such that we don't need to call up the tank factory and submit a PO for more tracks. Did you think that the entire Army is forward deployed already?
No - I think that Europe is still very much structurally susceptible to letting a minor conflict (say, some inciting incident in the Balkans) spread. WWI didn't happen because of some wannbe Alexander the Great seeking to bestride Europe. It happened because when you have a lot of countries with varying military strengths all jostled together, they end up forming alliances and entanglements in order to advance their security and other interests. So if two countries that are in competing camps end up getting into some scrap or minor regional conflict, it can get everyone involved.
I suggest you read Winston Churchill's The World Crisis, Volume I: 1911-1914. In it you'll get a feel for just how belligerent the continental powers towards one another. Incidentally in WC's view World War 1 started with the Agadir Crisis in 1911. Today's Europe doesn't look anything like the Europe of a century ago.
So the delta in taxation is a few hundred billion dollars per year (again, before consumer shifts).
The federal deficit is $1.8T a year. Even a few hundred billion will help.
