If the West is serious about the possibility of a great power conflict, it needs to take a hard look at its capacity to wage a protracted war and to pursue a strategy focused on attrition rather than manoeuvre.
I hope we don’t end up in a situation where the collective west ends up learning from its mistakes in this war and prepares well for the future. There are some signs that many western countries are “waking up” and realizing just how far their military capabilities have fallen. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not this rhetoric can be translated into concrete action.
A key difference between the models is that NATO doctrine cannot function without high-performing NCOs. The Soviet doctrine was enhanced by experienced NCOs but did not require them.
The Soviet Union built its army for large-scale conflict with NATO. It was intended to be able to rapidly expand by calling up massed reserves.
By 1943, the Red Army had developed a robust NCO corps, which then disappeared after the Second World War as combat formations were demobilised.
I wonder how much of this is due to East Europe’s geography. It seems like a place where it tends to be quite hard to make quick, deep maneuvers. During the winter season logistics is hard, during spring time, there’s lots of mud. If you try to advance, there’s too many open fields exposed to artillery.
I really don’t see how the rhetoric can translate into action while the west is being run by financial capitalists. What would be requires is creating massive state owned industry and training up the workforce. Financial oligarchs absolutely despise having to do that sort of public spending.
I don’t think there is any possibility of a state-owned military industrial complex to be set up, but I do think the imperatives of empire will at least force western states to create larger state-managed industries. It wouldn’t even be a drag on the capitalists, as expanded production means more opportunity for profiteering.
It’s possible, but it’s also worth noting that the standards of living in the west are already in a rapid decline as we speak. Diverting significant resources towards the military industrial complex will only make the situation worse. It’s almost guaranteed that there will be more austerity going forward which will lead to further radicalization of the public.
If the west re-industrialises, they create the conditions for a people’s revolution at home. If they do not, they enable them abroad. Whatever actions the west takes (including inaction) will have consequences for western capital.
I hope we don’t end up in a situation where the collective west ends up learning from its mistakes in this war and prepares well for the future. There are some signs that many western countries are “waking up” and realizing just how far their military capabilities have fallen. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not this rhetoric can be translated into concrete action.
I wonder how much of this is due to East Europe’s geography. It seems like a place where it tends to be quite hard to make quick, deep maneuvers. During the winter season logistics is hard, during spring time, there’s lots of mud. If you try to advance, there’s too many open fields exposed to artillery.
I really don’t see how the rhetoric can translate into action while the west is being run by financial capitalists. What would be requires is creating massive state owned industry and training up the workforce. Financial oligarchs absolutely despise having to do that sort of public spending.
I don’t think there is any possibility of a state-owned military industrial complex to be set up, but I do think the imperatives of empire will at least force western states to create larger state-managed industries. It wouldn’t even be a drag on the capitalists, as expanded production means more opportunity for profiteering.
It’s possible, but it’s also worth noting that the standards of living in the west are already in a rapid decline as we speak. Diverting significant resources towards the military industrial complex will only make the situation worse. It’s almost guaranteed that there will be more austerity going forward which will lead to further radicalization of the public.
Something like the “state corporations” in Russia, perhaps. “USTech”. “USHeli”.
If the west re-industrialises, they create the conditions for a people’s revolution at home. If they do not, they enable them abroad. Whatever actions the west takes (including inaction) will have consequences for western capital.