Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace told lawmakers Tuesday that a widely circulated Associated Press report purportedly offering his assessment of the US military’s lack of readiness to respond to a new conflict was “inaccurate.” The JCS Chairman reminded members of the House Armed Services Committee that they could read his report for themselves, but he described the “risk” of tackling a second war as being one of “how long it will take, not whether or not we will get it done.” The “job” would be “less precise and more heavy-handed,” explained Pace, because of worldwide commitments, particularly for “some of our precision intelligence force.” The bottom line for Pace, “No one in our country or any potential adversary should question our ability to handle another crisis tomorrow.”
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…