The Urgent Need for U.S. Maritime Reform with William Cahill - on Midrats
strategic capacity
If people are policy and policy shapes decisions, then that is the start in understanding why a nation like the USA wound up neglecting what should be a core sector of not just its economy, but its strategic advantage - its civilian maritime industry.
Using his recent article, The Urgent Need for U.S. Maritime Reform as a starting point, our guest for the full hour is William Cahill.
Will is president of Applied Maritime Sciences, a maritime technology and strategy consultancy. He served as Director for Strategic Planning on the National Security Council and Maritime Advisor on the Council of Economic Advisers where he helped develop and lead Interagency efforts to enhance American maritime competitiveness. During his 20 years as a Coast Guard officer, Will completed numerous operational tours both at sea as a Cutterman and at air stations as a Coast Guard aviator. Will holds degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine engineering from the USCGA and a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University.
You can listen here or below.
The entire infrastructure of the United States needs reform not just the maritime portion which is dear to our hearts. The problems are mismanagement and a lack of money. What can you expect from political appointees who know nothing about the sectors of the economy that they are supposed to oversee? Do I really have to name names? Also, think about what could have been done with the trillions that were used to create Jeffersonian democracies in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine.
In once sense this neglect I have always found odd. Unless we are going to war with Mexico or Canada any logistical movement will involve sealift. To deploy any sizable division level force will
mean hundreds of vehicles and the "iron mountain" of ammo, fuel, parts, mobile infrastructure and all else. I am sure the folks deployed would like some rations and a coffee maker to...8-) I dont see us doing this by airlifting two Abrams or Bradleys at a time on a C5 Galaxy being a winning stratagy.