U.S. Military in Trouble

I love the United States of America and still believe it is one of the few bright spots left in the world. As a Christian, my heart breaks when I look at how much our nation has changed in the past 47 years I’ve been around. Over that period of time, abortion became legalized, homosexual marriage recognized, and people who espouse Judeo-Christian values are largely marginalized. America is in deep trouble and as you look around, it’s plain to see that our country is being undermined not only from within but externally as well. While the sharp downward spiral of morality in America is obvious, there is another area where trouble it’s not so obvious. The Armed Forces of the U.S. are in a protracted season of decline. Our society is marked by hedonism and self-indulgence which will lead to moral collapse, while the weakening of our military will certainly lead to war and perhaps our ultimate demise. America may be relegated to a second-rate player on the world stage because of economic collapse, moral decay, and a weak national defense. Let’s take a realistic look at the threats we are facing and the possible repercussions of a U.S. military in trouble.

I think we still have the greatest military in the world and I’m proud of our men and women in uniform. The United States is a nation that promotes peace and stability wherever our troops are deployed around the globe. Though far from perfect, America has been a force for good. We have brought vital aid to poverty-stricken nations and shielded innocent people from despotism and tyranny. Statistics show that we can win a war and are still a formidable foe and beneficial ally.

National pride and patriotism aside, we must face the fact that over the last eight years, our military has been in rapid decline. I’m not here to go political on you because our ministry is focused on Bible prophecy and holy Christian living, not politics. While it is true that much of this decline has taken place on the current administration’s watch, many in Congress are complicit in the decline as well. What’s more, there are folks inside the Pentagon and State Department who seem more concerned about playing nice with our enemies than they are with sticking close to our trusted allies. As the United States military continues its decline, we are witnessing the world become a much more dangerous place for us. We seem to be abandoning our allies and rolling out the red carpet of appeasement for our enemies.

It is this writer’s firm belief that it’s no accident that America is in decline at this time because God won’t allow sin to go unpunished. The moral fabric of America is eroding and it brings to mind the days of Lot and the days of Noah. The Lord is the one who raises up and deposes rulers and kings. He is also the one to raise a nation up and later bring them low. Regardless of who is elected President in November, we must realize that God has the final say. Daniel 2:20

Is it possible that the Lord is allowing for the weakening of the United States as part of the End Time scenario?

I do not know the answer to that question, but the idea is certainly plausible. As I mentioned before, for the most part…America has been a force for good around the globe. The Bible gives us a clear view of the conditions people will face as history draws to a close. There will be a one-world government that is under the rulership of the Antichrist. There will be a worldwide economic system by which no one can participate in commerce without submitting to it. Being part of the one world economy certainly means capitulation and surrendering national sovereignty. It ultimately means that all people including people of the United States will be taking place in a system of worship of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:16

This is a scenario that doesn’t take place overnight. There is a slow leak and a decline in the fabric of Western nations, namely the US. that leads to their slow demise, eradication, or absorption into a global (one world) system of government. This decline takes place in several key areas including morally, economically, and militarily. Let’s take a look at some recent statistics and observations that clearly show we have a military in trouble.

I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the social aspects of the military decline, but it’s a fact that the last decade has been especially tough on the morale of our military personnel. The Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Act of the 90s was recently replaced by the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (Repeal) Act of 2010. In essence, this repeal in 2010 allows gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to serve openly in the armed forces, whereas for decades prior…they had to keep their sexual orientation a private matter.

Now we have the push for women to go into more traditional combat roles. Here is a recent statement from the Secretary of Defense on women being allowed into combat roles:

“There will be no exceptions, they’ll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat. They’ll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything else that was previously open only to men.”  – US. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter

Women are just as smart, qualified, and talented as men. When I was in Iraq, I knew women soldiers & Airmen who were just as qualified as the guys they served with. Here’s the issue at hand:  If a woman is captured by an enemy fighter, I believe it would put an even greater strain on the mission and efforts to free her at all costs.

Here is what one female Marine had to say about her deployment:

Over the past few years, the Air Force has had issues with the behavior of airmen at key bases where some of our weapons are located. A report on an investigation shows drug use among service members who work inside these bases among nuclear weapons. This is very dangerous because we are talking about our national security and readiness being dependent upon someone who is impaired. The report states that cocaine was among the drugs found to be used during the investigation. Here is the report on drug use at nuclear sites:

Nuke Base airmen under investigation for illegal drug use.  -Fox News

There is also the issue of defense spending and military readiness. All branches of our Armed Forces are suffering a major loss of man power and much of our equipment is dated and in need of repair. This is a direct result of an economy that’s faltering. Just this week, the Air Force top brass went before Congress to ask for more funding because of a shortage of pilots.

In his Capitol Hill testimony, Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle said the Air Force needed 511 fighter jet pilots and approximately 200 more drone pilots in order to adequately carry out current missions. -CNN

Here is another report from this week citing that America would have major difficulty fighting a war against China and Russia:

The Army’s top general says military forces on the ground face a high level of risk if the United States gets into a large-scale conflict against a power such as Russia or China. Testifying Wednesday on Capitol Hill, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley says years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, constrained budgets, and troop cuts have had a cumulative effect on the service. Milley says the Army is ready to fight the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations. But what Milley describes as a “great power war” against one or two of four countries – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – would pose greater challenges. Milley says the Army’s readiness is not at a level that is appropriate for what the American people expect to defend them.  -Associated Press

The Heritage Foundation just released its annual index of U.S. Military Strength.  Here are some of the startling facts regarding our ability to fight our enemies in 2016:

Each of the six threat actors assessed in this Index—those possessing both the means to threaten and a pattern of provocative behavior—continued to be particularly aggressive during 2015, with a not altogether surprising correlation between physical capability and state robustness or coherence. Our scoring resulted in the individual marks depicted. While all six threats have been quite problematic in their behavior and in their impact on their respective regions, Russia and China continue to be most worrisome, both because of the investments they are making in the rapid modernization and expansion of their offensive military capabilities and because of the more enduring effect they are having within their respective regions through such actions as Russia’s active involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and China’s provocative building of islands in highly disputed international waters in the South China Sea.  -Heritage Foundation

The report and the graph from the Heritage Foundation show just how big the problems are facing the military. This report and the recent testimonies from Pentagon top brass are disturbing, to say the least. I don’t recall a time since the Carter Administration when this nation has been at greater risk from hostile enemy forces, especially in China and Russia. National security has never seemed so undermined.

China is developing hypersonic weapons and both the Russians and Chinese are acquiring the ability to knock out our satellites that allow command and control of warfighting efforts. Add in the aggressive nature of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the South China Sea and Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria, and it becomes clear that we are facing danger on multiple fronts.

I could go on and on about the dangers we face geopolitically, but this article is just a summary of the sad realities of what the U.S. is facing. Moreover, this has nothing to do with opinions about where our loyalties lay regarding politics. I’ve included sources from military leadership and the Dept. of Defense’s findings. I don’t know if the tide can be turned so that this nation can continue to be a force for peace and stability around the globe or if it is too late. This is not the time for complacency, apathy, and appeasement in regard to our enemies, it is time for strength and resolve.

I firmly believe how our government has dealt harshly with Israel, directly correlates to our sharp decline as a nation. Genesis 12:3

We side with the bullies in the E.U. and UN. as they gang up on Israel. We push for a two-state solution when only Israel clearly wants peace. The current administration has been nothing short of disrespectful and disingenuous in its dealings with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Our ‘special partnership’ with Israel seems more like a hostile divorce lately.

I hope that the United States turns the corner and will treat Israel like the close friend and ally that it is, instead of allowing this rift to continue. Ultimately, the Bible gives us a clear view of a time ahead when all nations will come against Israel. Before that happens, it seems as though we are seeing the beginnings of an eventual weakening of the U.S. We see weakening via the poor economy, moral decay, and certainly in the military.

Many Bible prophecy teachers have plausible views on what will be the eventual outcome for America as the End Times unfold. Some feel that we will be wrecked via terrorism or an economic collapse. Others believe we will be ‘taken out’ and destroyed by enemies like Russia and China. Some have felt that it may be a combination of economic collapse, terrorism, and internal decay that propel us toward becoming part of a one-world system of government.

Only the Lord knows exactly how things will unfold. One thing we can say for certain regarding the current health of our military, it is in deep trouble. I hope our leadership takes the dangers we face seriously because no one knows this better than the Generals and other military professionals who have testified before Congress. We should pray for our country. We should pray for the moral decay to abate and for our leadership.

Ultimately….our security does not depend on the men and women in Washington. Our true security comes through a personal relationship with Jesus. No matter what the elections, economy, or global conflicts bring our way…..if we know Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are eternally secure. I pray you have a blessed Easter as we celebrate our risen Savior.

All for Him,

Howard

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