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.”
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.