BORROWED WISDOM

The United States has ruled the seas of the world for the past 80 years.  That could be what has saved us from another World War.  Our air superiority is questionable though our air force is largest.  Numbers of ground troops is less than China though maybe better equipped.  The oceans have been our greatest advantage.  

The US Navy has 291 surface vessels in operations.  They expect to have only 270 by 2027.  Keep in mind that these assets are sailing all the waters of the world.  

China currently has over 400 surface vessels.  All of these are located in the western Pacific.  The PRC is also churning out additional vessels at an alarming rate.  

We have an advantage over China in subsurface vessels and large aircraft carriers.  Active US Navy subs include 53 nuclear attack subs, 14 nuclear ballistic missile subs and 4 guided missile subs.  China has about 59 subs but only 16 of the are nuclear powered.  

We have 11 large nuclear powered aircraft carriers; each holding about 80 planes.  China has 3 large aircraft carriers but is struggling to staff them with qualified pilots.  

The gap in domination of the seas is dwindling down.  Our congress is not anxious to commit to building a larger navy.  Our best hope for continued world dominance is in our Space Force.  I don't have great hope for that.  Independent companies have exposed how inefficiently NASA operates.  

The way I see it, there are two possible outcomes:  we could be involved in a world war in which we are overpowered by China or we could be coaxed into continuing to spend more money than we have on arms - in which case, we will crumble.  The only way around this is a change in policies and attitudes - that ain't gonna happen.  

Looks like I lived in the great era between world wars when the United States had it all.