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Times showing, transcripts, online videoWith the United States Army deployed in a dozen hot spots around the world, on constant alert in Afghanistan, and taking casualties every day in Iraq, some current and former officers now say the army is on the verge of being "broken." They charge that the army is overstretched, demoralized, and may be unable to fight where and when the nation desires.
This fall, FRONTLINE and The Washington Post join forces for an in-depth assessment of the state of the American army and the nation's military establishment. The program digs into the aggressive attempts to assert civilian control and remake the military by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his allies
After the end of Persian Gulf War in 1991, Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined his vision for efficient and decisive military action. His plan is now referred to as the Powell Doctrine, although there is not an actual formal document named as such. Powell, currently the U.S. secretary of state, has recently invoked the Doctrine in articulating the justifications for the Bush administration's preparations for war in Iraq. Essentially, the Doctrine expresses that military action should be used only as a last resort and only if there is a clear risk to national security by the intended target; the force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy; there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public; and there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged.
Powell based this strategy for warfare in part on the views held by his former boss in the Reagan administration, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, and also on his own experience as a major in Vietnam. That protracted campaign, in Powell's view, was representative of a war in which public support was flimsy, the military objectives were not clear, overwhelming force was not used consistently, and an exit strategy was ill defined.
The report, produced by FRONTLINE and The Washington Post, investigates the state of the US Army in recent years and the challenges it faces in recruiting and retaining soldiers, maintaining readiness, and addressing issues such as sexual assault and mental health.
There are several factors that have contributed to the breaking point in the US Army, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, budget cuts and sequestration, and changing societal attitudes towards military service.
The US Army has implemented various initiatives and policies to address the challenges it faces, such as increasing bonuses and benefits for soldiers, implementing stricter policies on sexual assault, and providing resources for mental health support.
The report suggests that the breaking point in the US Army could have serious implications for national security, as it may lead to a decrease in readiness and an inability to respond effectively to global threats.
The report suggests that addressing issues such as recruitment and retention, improving mental health support, and addressing cultural issues within the army, can help improve the situation. However, it also highlights the need for adequate funding and resources to support these efforts.