Twenty-five years of budget cuts and capitulation have enabled a dark future. In what ways can we get ahead of this challenge?

That is an interesting take, but is 'hope for the best' a viable option in reality. The Republican President and Republican Congress thought sequestration was a nifty idea and cut the budget annually, closed bases, cut healt care on base into to terrible 'mainside hospitals' vice area clinics and set up a planning process that was essentially fifty rude poor people yelling at dinner. This would be disenchanting enough without an apatheic public and further strifing of our honorable retiree's benefits; making the effort less enticing only for the experienced veteranse flying out in droves to realize they can not afford to live. So, should Syria and (I think we are calling Iraq an Amy again), then ports will need to be manned and bases resupplied simply to allow the flow of trade. Without trade, our nation does not last long.

Thank you for ansering Scott!! The comments above were an attempt to frame the problem better for everyone. At least, as I see it. Since the Korean War the US Foreign Policy was "Anti-Communist". The wall fell and we just ate ice cream and cake while we waited for our new foe. UBL was obvious and a huge threat, but he was laughed off as not relevant. China was fun to think about, but that will likely never happen - I think they won since they are now our landlords.

Force Projection is the ability of the US Navy to monitor foreign waterways, ports with air, Land and Sea Power so that our citizenry may be safe.

Going forward, I have concernsl

Sadly I doubt #2 would do anything. The Republicans are as bad as the Democrats, just in different ways. Has our super majority of Republicans in Congress done anything effective?

CPT Zachary B,  Sir  I was in the middle of going to school to get my BS of in Information System 25 yrsago, during the 1st GW.  The RIFF happened OCS was dashed, Then OMB called told me to go to a GOVT Contractor to finish and keep submitting all military forms and keep trying OCS, gave up on OCS, then once I got through they told me I could be a Warrent Officer then Transsfer over. back to Reg Offfer. Stupid. I sad no, others was doing, and is in AFAN NOW. Go figure.