U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Says the Defense Industry "Conned" Us? Yeah, and Santa's Real Too.
The "Con"? More Like a Cozy Arrangement.
So, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is out here claiming the defense industry "conned the American people and the Pentagon"? Give me a break. It's a little late for that revelation, don't you think? It's like finding out your spouse has been cheating on you...ten years after everyone else knew.
Driscoll, bless his heart, acts like he just stumbled upon this grand conspiracy. Newsflash: the military-industrial complex has been lining its pockets for decades. It ain't a con; it's a deeply ingrained system. A system where cost overruns are expected, and "military-specific solutions" magically cost ten times more than anything civilian.
He says they want to flip the script to "90 percent being commercially available and 10 percent being specific." Sure, Jan. But who's going to hold these primes accountable? The same Pentagon that's been getting fleeced for years? I'll believe it when I see tanks rolling off the Ford assembly line.
And speaking of accountability, where was this guy when all this was happening? Was he asleep at the wheel? Or was he, perhaps, just another cog in the machine, happy to collect a paycheck while the gravy train kept rolling?
The Army: A Less-Than-Perfect Customer (According to Himself)
Driscoll does admit the Army hasn't exactly been a dream client. "I highlight how bad of a customer we have been and the characteristics that they have today, we created and incentivized over a long period of time." Well, at least he's got some self-awareness. But incentivizing inefficiency ain't exactly a badge of honor.
He says the Army's acquisition structure is getting a "complete rework" – a reduction in general officers, consolidation of Program Executive Offices, and more emphasis on commercial companies. Sounds great on paper. But how many times have we heard promises of streamlining and efficiency from the government? It's like hearing a politician promise to lower taxes. Empty words. According to a recent article, the Army Overhauls Acquisition Structure.
And this "Pathway for Innovation and Technology" (PIT) office? Sounds like another layer of bureaucracy designed to justify someone's six-figure salary. What is this, some kind of tech incubator for the military? Are they gonna start handing out kombucha and offering ping pong tables to attract "non-traditional" talent?
Drones, Drones Everywhere...But Not a Plan in Sight
Then there's the drone situation. The Army wants to buy a million drones over the next few years, because apparently, we need our own personal swarm of buzzing death machines. Driscoll says Ukraine is the "Silicon Valley of warfare" because they're using drones to blow up Russian equipment. Great. So we're outsourcing our R&D to a warzone now?
And he thinks he can catch up to China, which manufactures millions of drones a year, by having the Army "invest in things like sensors and brushless motors and circuit boards." I mean, good luck competing with a country that doesn't have pesky things like labor laws or environmental regulations.
He also says they're working with Congress on something called "SkyFoundry." I’m not even going to try and guess what that is…probably another government boondoggle.
But wait, are we really supposed to believe that the same government that can't even fix a pothole is going to revolutionize drone manufacturing? I'm calling BS.
Is Anyone Actually Surprised By This?
Look, I'm not saying the defense industry is full of mustache-twirling villains (though some probably are). But let's be real: it's a business. Their goal is to make money, and the Pentagon has been more than happy to hand it over, no questions asked. So now, suddenly, now, Secretary Driscoll is shocked that they've been "conned"? Please. It's like being surprised that water is wet.
Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I don't see this ending well. More bureaucracy, more wasted money, and more promises that will never be kept. The only thing that will change is the names on the contracts. The grift will continue, just under a different guise.