The U.S. Military Can't Do Everything at Once

"Even with a nearly $1 trillion budget, the U.S. military can only do so much. Pentagon officials are privately warning that the United States may not be able to threaten Venezuela's regime, support protesters seeking to topple Iran's government, and protect its interests in the Asia-Pacific without being overstretched. The competing demands could heighten the risk to ground forces in the Middle East, who would be in the line of fire of any retaliation from Iran should President Trump decide to strike."

"U.S. military commanders are used to having most of the assets they need to wage war. The cost of two decades in Afghanistan topped $2 trillion, to say nothing of Iraq and, more recently, Yemen, Iran, and Somalia. But the military faces an unusual problem: how to get the ships, munitions, and planes that were protecting U.S. forces in the Middle East-but are now in the Caribbean-back to the Middle East."

"In the weekslong run-up to the U.S. capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. sent roughly 11 ships and submarines stationed near Venezuela, marking the biggest U.S. military footprint in the region since the Cuban missile crisis. Initially, the forces struck suspected drug boats, later stopped sanctioned oil tankers, and ultimately took custody of Maduro after Delta Forces snatched him while he was sleeping in Caracas. Many military assets came from the Middle East and have yet to leave the Western Hemisphere."

The U.S. military faces competing global demands that strain force posture despite a nearly $1 trillion budget. Pentagon officials privately warn the United States may lack capacity to simultaneously threaten Venezuela’s regime, support protesters seeking to topple Iran’s government, and protect interests in the Asia‑Pacific. Movement of ships, munitions, and aircraft from the Middle East to the Caribbean for operations against Nicolás Maduro has depleted regional defenses. Fewer carrier strike groups and relocated destroyers reduce on‑hand air and missile defense for U.S. ground forces in the Middle East, increasing their exposure to Iranian retaliation.

Read at The Atlantic