Delete comment from: Elements Of Power
Part 2.
RE: "You seem to assume the opposite and give the DoD the benefit of the doubt - to an organization [sic] that certainly didn't deserve or has a reputation for efficient allocation of resources."
Another easily dismissed position stated as fact. Is the DoD as ‘efficient’ as it ‘could be’ in allocating resources? Probably not, but it could be more efficient than we have a right to expect. We don’t know. Why?
Because we CANNOT know.
1. We have no basis or bases for comparing the DoD’s efficiency to any other endeavor on earth. Why? Because no other comparable activities EXIST. (Name one?) But you appear to believe you are capable of judging the DoD’s performance in this regard. If so, perhaps you should ask yourself WHY you should ‘feel’ so qualified?
2. Define ‘efficient’. As the purpose of the DoD is to protect the US and our interests around the world, do we judge efficiency by the percentage of time we’ve been able to successfully kick some ne’er-do-well’s a** militarily? In that case DoD runs at 100% efficiency. Too bad the foreign policy/Foggy Bottom team seems to be in a perpetual slump. Or is ‘efficiency’ measured in useful lifespans of the systems procured at the level of effort involved?
3. Delineate between ‘inefficiencies’ inherent to the DoD and those ‘inefficiencies’ imposed from outside the DoD. RAND has published volumes on this topic. Much, if not MOST comes from imposed change. You should read up.
4. Define ‘efficiency’ for the act of fielding new technology or new combinations of technology. How do you “efficiently” create something that has never existed before? I’d love to hear it (alas, from somebody else now).
5. How do you measure the indirect benefit of new technology spawned from defense activity? I’d say the major problem in trying to measure the ROI is that once the tech leaves the hands of the military it becomes fungible and ubiquitous. Examples? Did you know that before the outer shape of the B-2 had been declassified technology developed to inspect B-2 composites was already in use within the latest medical imaging equipment? I’d wager the economic benefits from GPS not only have paid for the program’s creation and operation to date, but probably has paid for any number of other weapon systems. What percentage of the US economy has been positively affected by the proliferation of the microchip revolution, not to mention the internet (ARPANET)?
Jun 5, 2015, 12:27:45 AM
Posted to I Believe the First Hit Piece Against the LRS-B Has Been Written