The Ben Shapiro Show – Facts Ep. 4: Five Reasons Our Military Might Crumble

Intro

In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses the five reasons why the American military might crumble. He highlights the importance of the American military in maintaining world peace since World War II and the direct impact it has on global prosperity. Ben dives into the challenges facing the military, including international dependency, naval and technological underinvestment, personnel retention issues, and political polarization.

Main Takeaways

International Dependency

• American military has been the guarantor of world peace since WWII
• Global prosperity is a direct result of American military presumedance

Naval Under-investment

• The US Navy represents just 22.5% of our annual military budget, lower than both the Army and the Air Force
• The Chinese have the world’s largest navy with 355 ships, and they want to add 70 more ships by 2030.
• The US needs to project power in specific areas in China’s backyard to challenge China’s threats to supply chains and other nations.

Technological Underinvestment

• The US military’s advantage in technological sophistication is gradually dissipating due to antiquated battle networks and a built-in bias against allowing private sector innovation.

Personnel Retention

• Recruitment problems in the US military include a lack of people who are willing or able to serve, with 77% of young adults in the US unfit for service.
• The growing disconnect and declining favorable view between the US population and traditional institutions, labor shortages, high inflation, and a population of youth who do not see the value of military service continue to strain recruiting efforts.

Political Polarization

• The politicization of the military combined with failures of political leadership has led to greater distrust of the military itself, as American confidence in the military dropped to 60% this year.
• Mark Milley’s actions have caused controversy in the US

Summary

The Importance of American Military and International Dependency

The American military has played a crucial role in maintaining world peace since World War II. Its presumedance has directly contributed to global prosperity. However, there is a growing concern regarding international dependency on the American military. As the guarantor of world peace, the US needs to address the challenges it faces to ensure its continued effectiveness.

Naval Underinvestment and China’s Growing Navy

One of the key challenges is naval underinvestment. The US Navy receives a smaller portion of the annual military budget compared to the Army and Air Force. This is concerning, especially considering China’s ambitions to expand its navy. China already has the largest navy in the world and plans to add 70 more ships by 2030. The US must project power in areas near China to counter its threats to supply chains and other nations.

Technological Underinvestment and Personnel Retention

The US military’s advantage in technological sophistication is gradually diminishing due to outdated battle networks and a lack of support for private sector innovation. Additionally, recruitment problems plague the military, with a significant percentage of young adults being unfit for service. The disconnect between the US population and traditional institutions, along with labor shortages and a lack of perceived value in military service among the youth, further exacerbate these challenges.

Political Polarization and Distrust in the Military

The politicization of the military and failures of political leadership have led to a decline in public trust. American confidence in the military has dropped to 60% this year. Controversial actions by individuals like Mark Milley have also contributed to this growing distrust. These factors pose a significant threat to the stability and effectiveness of the American military.

Conclusion

A strong and well-supported US military is crucial not only for the safety and security of Americans but also for maintaining peace and stability around the world. Addressing the challenges of international dependency, naval underinvestment, technological underinvestment, personnel retention, and political polarization is essential. Americans must rally behind their military, and the military must work to regain and justify the trust and support of the people.