More Faulty Thinking From HQMC.

This is killing me.

Doctrine is being developed on the back of note cards and wishful thinking.  I don't believe any of this can actually have been wargamed.

Quite honestly its a doctrine that simply enshrines current Pentagon Group Think.  via National Defense Magazine.

Working with allies and helping to train their armed forces — or what the Pentagon calls “phase zero” operations — would help avert armed conflict as the United States would have a huge coalition on its side to deter a potential enemy, Simcock said.
Navy and Marine Corps officials in Asia are convinced that “engagement” is the ticket to peace in the region, he said. “Countries are very receptive to the type of engagement that the Navy and Marine Corps bring to the maritime theater,” he said.

No country wants to see the United States increase its military presence in the area permanently, but Asian allies welcome opportunities to train with U.S. forces and buy U.S. technology so their weapons are compatible. “That type of engagement and access is what we build upon” to push back against enemies that would seek to deny entry to U.S. forces, he said. “The relationships we build today, before any crisis hits, will pay off when a crisis occurs,” regardless of whether it is a man-made or a natural disaster.

Read the whole thing at NDM.

But a question.

Do you remember being in a bar and watching two guys going at it.  You might know them both...and you're sure that they have other friends in the room too, but everyone kicks back and watches the festivities.

Why?

Because its not your fight.  At most you might break it up, but you won't weigh in on one side or the other.

That's the Pacific region.

If China decides to make a run on the Spratly Islands claimed by Japan, who would come to Japan's aid?  The US?  We would debate the issue until it became a done deal.  Thailand, Australia and Singapore intervening on Japan's behalf?  Not likely.  The Chinese are not idiots.  They'll be doing prepping operations too.  Diplomatic prepping operations.  The stage will be set where no country will aid Japan.

A Marine General show know this.

As a matter of fact I'm sure he does.  What this is, is a strategy to fool the public into believing that we're keeping pace with the Chinese militarily while our forces are being gutted.

What do partnership missions bring?  An active looking military that is in essence being hollowed but still giving the impression of being robust and vigorous.

I really hope the Pentagon realizes what its doing.  The left never supported them and soon the right won't either (when they figure all this out).  What happens when America's most trusted institution is no longer trustworthy?