USS Tulsa (LCS 16) sails in the Philippine Sea

Interesting isn't it. 

The LCS is sailing in the Pacific as part of us "competing".

Competing wasn't even a military term (at least one used when discussing strategy) and now we have Berger's Folly basically re-inventing the Marine Corps NOT TO FIGHT AND WIN but rather compete with China.

Somehow someway he believes that US forces inside the enemies engagement zone is competing with China.  Somehow someway he believes that having Marines stare at Chinese Marines conducting operations in their OWN HEMISPHERE will deter them.

Reverse this thinking.

What if the Chinese stationed a Regiment of Marines in the Caribbean. What do you think our reaction would be? Suppose they put out the fig leaf that they were there to "deter aggression and reassure their allies"?

I would be pounding the table and writing my Congress Critter to get them the fuck outta there.  I would be willing to go to war because they were within spitting distance of the USA.

I'm not trying to go all peace, love and marijuana on you but it is kinda easy to understand why Chinese patriots (labeled as nationalist here in the US) are going bonkers isn't it?

Oh and question.

If Berger's Folly was fully operational RIGHT NOW, would it have kept the Chinese from flying circles around Taiwan with a reinforced air wing yesterday?

I don't think so.

And that's the problem.

Berger's Folly also known as Force Design 2030 won't even accomplish its mission of competing with China.

That ship has sailed.

The only rational thing to do is to keep the Marine Corps as a force that can sail anywhere, fight anyone and maybe specialize the 3rd MEF to fight in the Pacific.

Fill that force with missiles.  Make it a Littoral Force.  But leave the rest of the Corps alone so that it can evolve to fight the MOST LIKELY fights...ya know those pop up conflicts that were all the rage in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's....while still being able to do the Nations (not the Navy's bidding) if needed for an unforeseen regional war (we might be done with the Middle East but the Middle East might not be done with us!).