Military resources weaken the US

(oslobodjene.ba)

The cost of war, by all parameters, especially due to the death of soldiers and civilian casualties, is extremely high for all those who engage in it, even for the superpowers, including the United States of America, which, together with Israel, is attacking Iran. And while the combat conflicts, unfortunately, do not stop, nor is it known how long they will last, military resources are being consumed enormously. Officials claim that the American defense industry, in which Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation and Northrop Grumman are at the forefront, cannot produce missiles and ammunition that have been fired quickly enough, so new ones are being sought. In addition, interceptors are used intensively to protect American interests in the Gulf states, where American troops are stationed and are the target of Iranian drones and missiles. NATO's supreme commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, last week, according to The Washington Post, warned the Pentagon that it no longer has enough naval forces to simultaneously protect Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles and carry out other key missions, and that if the government does not send it additional destroyers, it will have to prioritize defending US territory at the expense of Israel. The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington believes that General Grynkewich's warning shows how a protracted war is draining the US military, its weapons stockpiles and operational readiness, and raises the question of long-term strategy.

According to one military official (who did not identify himself), such warnings are not uncommon when generals assess that there are serious security risks or a lack of resources, but the Pentagon did not want to comment on this, referring to an earlier statement by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the US armed forces still have sufficient quantities of modern weapons. However, the minister's words should be taken with a grain of salt, since in his public appearances he faithfully conveys and implements the policy of President Donald Trump, which in the US is less and less approved even by Republicans. Due to the increasing expenses, the Pentagon is forced to review the distribution of funds for military activities, because, according to the American media, the lack of money is already reflected in military exercises, training and maintenance of military equipment, which causes concern about a possible weaker combat readiness of the USA. The White House is asking Congress for an additional $67 billion to fund military operations, but political divisions are slowing passage of the request. In order to secure funds for urgent needs on the ground, the Pentagon requested the reassignment of 4,3 billion dollars from the funds earmarked for the training of soldiers and the acquisition of new military equipment.

The Trump administration claims that the cost of the war so far is around $30 billion, and some analysts believe that the actual costs are significantly higher. According to estimates from experts at the Harvard Kennedy School, the final bill for American taxpayers due to the war with Iran could exceed a staggering $1 trillion, while the total American costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were later estimated at up to $6 trillion, but Americans are still fighting and suffering losses. In addition to combat operations, a significant part of the costs relates to the repair of damage to military bases in the region. According to some estimates, the reconstruction of the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain alone could cost around $200 million, while the total damage could reach $1 billion. Experts warn that the real financial burden comes only after the war is over, followed by long-term expenses for veterans' care, replenishing weapons stocks, and repairing losses in the economy. Historical experience shows that these costs are often the highest, but also the most difficult to measure.

The Americans are skillfully avoiding reporting the damage that Iranian missiles and drones have caused to their navy in the Middle East, where the aircraft carriers “Abraham Lincoln” and “Gerald Ford”, cruisers, destroyers and other ships that have borne the brunt of the war so far are sailing. In addition to destroyers in the Mediterranean, the US has also deployed several warships in the Arabian and Red Seas, which protect trade routes and enforce the blockade of Iran. The US Navy has five more destroyers stationed at the Spanish naval base of Rota, located in southwestern Andalusia, in the province of Cádiz, but due to the intense engagement so far, some of the ships are behind schedule with their repairs. According to Pentagon sources, there are currently about 40.000 American troops in the Middle East, a quarter of whom are stationed at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, which houses fighter jets, tankers, aerial refueling units and intelligence elements. One Iranian ballistic missile hit the base on June 23, while the rest were intercepted by American and Qatari air defense systems. “Al-Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of carrying out its mission, along with our Qatari partners, to ensure security and stability in the region,” said Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman. The Americans were confident that no one would dare to attack the base, but it happened, which means that even the great powers have their own weak points that Iran is exploiting in this war.