The United States needs to have a discussion about “what deterrence looks like when we get out to 2020, 2030,” said Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, Joint Chiefs vice chairman. He told defense reporters last week in Washington, D.C., that the number of countries that the United States must deter from using nuclear weapons against it has grown “from one to more than one.” The same type of force may not deter them all in the same manner, he said. “You may actually decide you’re going to [keep] mutual assured destruction with one country,” but that same approach may not similarly compel another against aggression, he said. There’s also the issue of how to deter a non-state nuclear power, he said. Until the United States has done the “mental gymnastics” of figuring out a new deterrent scheme, Cartwright said he “wouldn’t be in favor of building too much” in the way of replacement nuclear systems for the triad. He said he is “pleased” that this discussion has at least started. (For more from Cartwright, read Confessions of a “Bomber Hater.”)
Hawaii F-22s Wrap Up Deployment to Japan
April 9, 2021
F-22s and Airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, forward deployed to Japan for almost one month to train with Japanese and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft as part of a “dynamic force employment” operation. The Raptors from the Active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron and Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron deployed…