NATO: debating and defending Europe

[novelist]

-The U.S. has only has 10 infantry divisions, an armored division, and an armored cavalry division.-

Your math is suspect, and your understanding of the modular Army is out of date. The Army has 10 total divisions, and there is no difference between the heavy brigades in 1AD, 1CD and 1ID (if they still have any). Further, the division construct is not as relevant, as there is a light and a Stryker brigade in 1AD.

Further, I don't think it is a point of readiness - this usually refers to the condition of forces - but rather, the type and amount of forces present. I do agree that we don't have the force structure and proper forces forward deployed to have a deterrent effect. Why do you need a Stryker or airborne BCT forward deployed? Wasn't their whole point being how easily deployed they would be? I get the Operational deployability of the Strykers, and the utility of the airborne IBCT. But for deterrent effect, 2 HBCTs (not in Germany - the Germans have shown how painful they can make our lives - maybe Poland and Romania) forward deployed, with additional prepositioned brigade sets, would bring back some ability to speak from a position of power.

Now, I also think you are being a bit dramatic in asking if NATO allies will 'turn against us'. However, their ability to be cowed by economic threats is significant and substantial.

So your comment is that we don't have the forces we need (agreed) and we have a Russian threat acting with relative impunity (agreed) then what is our position to negotiate from? Well, maybe we need to ask the Europeans. It is their butts on the line.

Tankersteve

My division count was wrong. You're right. I was thinking that the count was back up to twelve (12) because I'd heard that the 7th I.D. was reactivated at Fort Lewis, or Joint Base Lewis-Mc Cord I think is what they call it now. If it has been reactivated, that puts the count at eleven (11).

If something does go down in Europe with Russia, I hope Lieutenant General H.R. Mc Master is the Corps (UEx) commander. IMHO he is the best military mind The Pentagon has right now. For the most part, we are in agreement. I think that HBCT' s were converted to Armored BCT' s. But with the drawdown due to the Budget Control Act that came out of OSD' s Strategic Choices and Management Review that has the Army cutting ten (10) BCT' s I don't know what the future force structure is really going to be like, and that worries me.