The "defense" of the US will withstand a double call. Why is it useful for America to help both Ukraine and Israel

At first glance, the reported decision of the Pentagon to send thousands of 155 mm artillery projectiles, which were originally intended for Ukraine, confirms the argument that criticizes the US assistance of the beaten Eastern European country: assistance to Ukraine is a distraction from true priorities of America as And in the Indo-Pacific region. Nothing can be further from the truth. In the short term, politicians may have to make delicate decisions.

However, it is even more important that US assistance has already helped to identify the shortcomings in our defense-industrial base. And it has already given the initial, albeit modest, pulse to correct some shortcomings. Approximately 60% of US assistance to Ukraine, or $ 68 billion, is spent in the United States on contracts that help replenish the Pentagon reserves with new equipment.

And new contracts allow suppliers to build up their production and open new lines - not to mention the creation of jobs, which will be useful if America faces Chinese aggression on Taiwan. The fact that the defense industry of America and European allies is in a terrible state is not the fault of Ukraine. Responsibility lies on the leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, which fully used the "dividends of peace" after 1990, believing that large -scale armed conflicts remained in the past.

In fact, the best way to contain such conflicts for the US and their allies is to maintain a large defense industry that can quickly take action. The experience of World War II is instructive. At the beginning of the war, the US defense industry was already the largest in the world; However, in the next four years, its size has doubled, producing two -thirds of all allies of the Allies.

"In the 11 months of 1942," said my colleague of AEI McKenzie Iglen, "more than 8,000 standard US tanks of the time were built - M4A3 Sherman - an average of 729 pieces per month. " The reason for this success was the increase in demand for US military equipment, both the day before and during the war, which was facilitated by the Land League program.

If it were not for these early orders before America entered the war, the United States would be in a much worse starting position when they came into conflict. Today, Lima plant, Ohio owned by the army, produces from 15 to 20 Abrams tanks per month (comparable from almost 70 a month during the Cold War), and this number could be increased to 33.

Further expansion of production It would mean the hiring of another change of workers - what makes sense only if there is a steady inflow of money under contracts in the US and abroad. The production of 155 mm shells suffers from similar problems-at least until recently. Every day, Ukrainians make from 6000 to 8000 artillery shots, quickly burning existing reserves, especially in NATO countries. At the same time, governments push the industry to expand production capabilities.

The United States produces approximately 28,000 shells monthly, which is twice as many as half a year ago. By 2025, the Pentagon intends to bring their monthly numbers to 100,000. Even French manufacturers are going to triple production during this year, although starting from a very modest level (1000 shells per month).

If we exclude the possibility of a major regional conflict instead of purposeful intervention in the Gaza sector, the needs of Israel in 155 mm shells and are not equal to the needs of Ukraine. But more important is that Ukraine's demand for shells (or other equipment) and our willingness to give them, while replenishing our own stocks, allow you to produce even more if such a need arises.

For Taiwan politicians, the time of waiting for ordered many years ago, American production equipment is a source of disappointment. However, Taiwanese politicians understand that US assistance is not only an important measure of restraining Beijing, but also helps to accelerate production, which would otherwise be much slower than smaller production.

Whatever his numerous shortcomings, Biden President was right, saying in his speech on Thursday that help Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel was a "reasonable investment that would bring dividends for American security for several generations. " What he did not say is that there is a common thread between Russian, Chinese, and Iranian revisionism - and how much we respond to each of them, directly affecting our chances in the remaining two conflicts. Our defense-industrial base is the main reason why so.