Hegseth impresses noone with his new warrior ethos..

[Syne]

Simple recent history proves that presence alone is not a deterrent.

You're simply too ignorant on this subject to even speak. I just showed you irrefutably how the Navy uses show of force all the time to deter conflict and reassure allies. And who the fuck are you to judge my military service? You didn't even serve. You're just being the POS you usually are because you have no more points to make. It's just what you are.

No, you didn't show any actual conflicts deterred. I've shown where conflicts did start under Biden, ignoring any show of force.
You're the POS promoting policies that endanger servicemen in active combat roles, from your armchair of having been safe on a boat the whole time. Don't like it? Maybe you shouldn't crow about it, pansy moron.

[Magical Realist]

No, you didn't show any actual conflicts deterred.

Nobody is stupid enough to claim otherwise given the massive evidence of it being the Navy's primary mission. But since you apparently are, here we go:

"The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

This incident is a classic example of a show of force preventing a nuclear conflict.

The situation: The United States discovered the Soviet Union was installing nuclear missile bases in Cuba, which were capable of striking American cities.

The show of force: President John F. Kennedy initiated a naval blockade (which he termed a "quarantine") around Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from delivering more military equipment. He also readied U.S. armed forces for a potential invasion.

The outcome: The U.S. show of force, combined with intense diplomacy, signaled a firm resolve that compelled the Soviet Union to back down and withdraw its missiles, successfully averting a potential nuclear war.

The 2017–2021 Gulf diplomatic crisis

The presence of U.S. military assets has also been credited with deterring wider regional conflict.

The situation: In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a trade embargo, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

The show of force: The massive U.S. Al Udeid Air Base, a crucial hub for American operations, is located in Qatar. The ongoing U.S. military presence in the country, combined with diplomatic efforts, demonstrated that the U.S. was aligned with Qatar.

The outcome: The visible presence of U.S. forces is believed to have been a contributing factor in deterring the surrounding countries from taking direct military action against Qatar.

NATO exercises and deterrence

NATO frequently uses military exercises to signal its resolve and enhance deterrence against potential aggressors, particularly Russia.

The situation: Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tensions escalated across Europe, raising concerns about potential Russian aggression toward NATO's eastern flank.

The show of force: In early 2024, NATO conducted its largest exercise since the Cold War, called Steadfast Defender, which involved 90,000 troops from all member states.

The outcome: This large-scale exercise was a highly visible demonstration of NATO's military readiness and its ability to defend its territory, reinforcing its deterrent posture and reassuring alliance members.

Military presence in the South China Sea

U.S. and its allies regularly conduct Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the
South China Sea to counter China's territorial claims and military expansion.

The situation: China has been increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, building artificial islands and militarizing features within the exclusive economic zones of other nations.

The show of force: Naval patrols and joint exercises by the U.S. and its allies signal that they will continue to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters.

The outcome: While ongoing tensions remain, these shows of force demonstrate a collective commitment to push back against China's claims and have so far prevented a larger armed conflict over the disputed territories."

You're the POS promoting policies that endanger servicemen in active combat roles, from your armchair of having been safe on a boat the whole time.

Oh? What policies do I promote that endanger servicemen in active combat roles? Be specific now so we can know you aren't lying.

[Syne]

So in recent times, it's only previously existing US military bases deterring attacks on the host country, and failures to deter, including Russia aggression, heightened Chinese posturing, and a prolonged attack on international shipping lanes. Reassurance of allies is not deterrence of enemies.

Oh? What policies do I promote that endanger servicemen in active combat roles? Be specific now so we can know you aren't lying.

All the policies you're mad at Hegseth for ending. Do you need me to tell you why you're mad about it, or can you manage to figure that out on your own? @_@

[Magical Realist]

So in recent times, it's only previously existing US military bases deterring attacks on the host country, and failures to deter, including Russia aggression, heightened Chinese posturing, and a prolonged attack on international shipping lanes. Reassurance of allies is not deterrence of enemies.

All historically document actions by the military of deterring a war or de-escalating military conflict by show of force. Can't argue with history now can we? lol

All the policies you're mad at Hegseth for ending. Do you need me to tell you why you're mad about it, or can you manage to figure that out on your own?

So what specifically are those? And how is my opposition to defining the military as a war-making regime of killing and intimidating and inflicting punishing violence on some "enemy" a threat to any military combat soldier? Be specific now...

[Syne]

Yeah, the US use to project strength, regardless of the party in power. Too bad that's obviously no longer the case.

So you're only opposed to his words, and not the changes he's making to the military? Do you even know what changes he's making? @_@

[Magical Realist]

Yeah, the US use to project strength, regardless of the party in power. Too bad that's obviously no longer the case.

Navy ships continue to make the rounds globally for training and a show of force and to reassure allies. Nothing whatsoever has changed.

So you're only opposed to his words, and not the changes he's making to the military?

What changes? Making it harder for women to get in and stay in by raising the standards? Getting rid of specially designated months of celebration? Tightening the BMI standards for all members? All I heard was a lot of fluff and nothing of substance. It was all a show to impress everyone. The new "Dept of War" and all that horseshit. Unfortunately nobody there was impressed at all. Those generals knew well the stench of
another newbie and his politics when they smelt it. Pretty sure they were all thinking: "Just 3 years of this prick and everything will be back to normal."

[Syne]

Yeah, the US use to project strength, regardless of the party in power. Too bad that's obviously no longer the case.

Navy ships continue to make the rounds globally for training and a show of force and to reassure allies. Nothing whatsoever has changed.

You're obviously out of touch. Ever since Obama let Syria cross his "red line" without any consequences for using chemical weapons on its own people, and Putin swooped in to disarm Syria, Democrat presidents have telegraphed US weakness abroad.
Again, reassuring allies is not the same as deterring enemies.

So you're only opposed to his words, and not the changes he's making to the military?

What changes? Making it harder for women to get in and stay in by raising the standards? Getting rid of specially designated months of celebration? Tightening the BMI standards for all members? All I heard was a lot of fluff and nothing of substance. It was all a show to impress everyone. The new "Dept of War" and all that horseshit. Unfortunately nobody there was impressed at all. Those generals knew well the stench of       
another newbie and his politics when they smelt it. Pretty sure they were all thinking: "Just 3 years of this prick and everything will be back to normal."

Yes, raising the fitness standards of the soldier next to you in combat.
Yes, focusing on the mission instead of social issues.

If you're against those, you are promoting endangering soldiers in combat.. through lack of combat fitness and distractions from training/readiness.

[Magical Realist]

You're obviously out of touch. Ever since Obama let Syria cross his "red line" without any consequences for using chemical weapons on its own people, and Putin swooped in to disarm Syria, Democrat presidents have telegraphed US weakness abroad.

Oh..so the Navy isn't deploying ships globally to train and project strength and assure allies? So what are they all doing deploying out to sea every 18 to 24 months for 9 months to a year? Vacationing?

If you're against those, you are promoting endangering soldiers in combat.. through lack of combat fitness and distractions from training/readiness.

We're not even at war right now if you haven't noticed. So none of those are distractions from anything. And I'm pretty sure having an African American month or a soldier 10 lbs overweight isn't gonna endanger anybody should we ever get into a war. Unless you are so unsure of a combat soldier's training that such trivialities would actually make any difference on his abilities whatsoever. They don't. As usual you are just an ignoramus making up shit.

[Syne]

Again, for the third time, reassuring allies is not deterring enemies.

Projecting strength is when we bombed the Houthis to protect US interests in the Red Sea.

Readiness happens prior to military action. If you wait until we're "at war" you've already failed. Again, it's pretty clear why you don't realize this.

[Magical Realist]

Again, for the third time, reassuring allies is not deterring enemies.

Three separate things moron--training, projecting strength, and reassuring allies, all achieved by Navy ships deploying worldwide. It's been going on for a hundred years and will keep going on. Nothing has changed despite your lies to the contrary.

Projecting strength is when we bombed the Houthis to protect US interests in the Red Sea.

You have no idea what that term even means. Here's how the Navy projects strength:

"The Navy projects its strength through a combination of forward-deployed naval assets, the continuous modernization of its fleet, and strategic technological advancements, including the development of unmanned and AI-integrated systems. Despite these efforts, the fleet is facing a near-term dip in its total number of ships due to budget and industrial challenges.

Near-term projection (2025–2029)

The U.S. Navy is focused on leveraging its existing fleet for forward presence and immediate crisis response while dealing with a temporary dip in ship numbers.

Shrinking fleet size: The total number of battle force ships is expected to decrease in the short term. As of December 2024, the Navy had 296 battle force ships, but this is projected to fall to a low of 283 in 2027 before slowly growing again. This is due to plans to retire 19 ships in 2025 while only procuring six new ones.

Operational presence: The Navy maintains a global presence to deter adversaries and assure allies. The fleet's largest forward-homeporting location is in Japan, with other deployments in the Pacific, Persian Gulf, and Mediterranean regions. These forward deployments allow for rapid response to crises.

Carrier strike groups (CSGs): The Navy's 11 aircraft carriers and 9 amphibious assault ships remain central to its power projection strategy. A single deployed CSG can be more powerful than many smaller nations' entire navies.

Integrated operations: Modern naval integration emphasizes combined efforts between the Navy and Marine Corps, as seen in forces like the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)."

Readiness happens prior to military action. If you wait until we're "at war" you've already failed. Again, it's pretty clear why you don't realize this.

Let's try this again dumbass. Training, as in maintaining readiness, projecting strength, as in show of force, and reassuring allies. Tell me now exactly what I'm not realizing.