US top military official: America should maintain joint force to overmatch any potential adversary

From Update.Ph (May 1): US top military official: America should maintain joint force to overmatch any potential adversary  

United States Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General (Marine Corps) Joe Dunford said before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, April 27, that United States should never send American service members into a fair fight. “Rather, we have to maintain a joint force that has the capability and credibility to assure our allies and partners, deter aggression and overmatch any potential adversary,” General Dunford said.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Dunford provided testimony on Defense Department’s fiscal year 2017 budget request, US Defense Department said.

The five challenges the Defense Department’s fiscal year 2017 budget request focuses on are Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and violent extremism.

The top American military official said Russia, China, North Korea and Iran continue to invest in military capabilities that look for the soft spot in American defenses. “They are also advancing their interests through competition with a military dimension that falls short of traditional armed conflict and the threshold for a traditional military response,” he said.

The actions of Russia in Ukraine, China in the South China Sea and Iran throughout the Middle East are examples of the challenges the US Defense Department must address, he said.

Improving current capabilities, restoring full-spectrum readiness and developing leaders for the future are key to maintaining the greatest advantage the U.S. military has over any rival – its people, General Dunford said.

http://www.update.ph/2016/05/us-top-military-official-america-should-maintain-joint-force-to-overmatch-any-potential-adversary/4909