The head of the Pentagon shocked the low combat readiness of the US army
The Minister of defence of the USA James Mattis said in testimony to Congress that he was shocked by the low combat readiness of the us army.
On Monday evening Mattis spoke at a hearing of the house Committee on armed services, which discussed the us defense budget for 2018.
The Pentagon said that US forces need stable funding. “No enemy hurt our readiness as spending cuts,” said Mattis.
“I left the army three months after the sequester took effect. Four years later I returned to the Ministry and was shocked at what I saw regarding our readiness to fight,” — said the Minister.
According to him, to remedy the situation the armed forces of the United States will take years of sustained funding.
Mattis commented on the blockade of Qatar. He called the situation in this country is very difficult. The Minister added that financing of terrorist groups “no common interest”.
The hearings were also made by the Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff U.S. army General Joseph Dunford. He said that the five biggest challenges for US now are Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and extremist organizations.
Dunford said that Russia is still trying to limit the ability of States to fulfil their commitments to NATO, including building capacity in cyberspace and space.
In mid-February, the Pentagon chief James Mattis said that the US is not willing to cooperate with Russia in the military sphere. He called on Moscow to comply with the obligations that Russia assumed in the framework of the agreement with NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, have repeatedly criticized the US and NATO in expanding missile defense system in Europe.