How Long to Read Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia

How Long Does it Take to Read Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia?

It takes the average reader and 12 minutes to read Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia by Ashley Townshend

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump complained that the United States’ “military is a disaster” and promised to make it “so big, so powerful, so strong that nobody – absolutely nobody – is gonna mess with us”.1 So far the president has not delivered on his rhetoric. Although Trump has requested additional funding for defence, the magnitude of the increase falls well short of his promises. Republican defence hawks are advocating for additional resources above the president’s request. But a combination of ongoing spending caps imposed by the Budget Control Act (BCA) and political gridlock in Washington will prevent Congress from passing more than a modest increase in defence spending for 2018. Washington’s inability to return the defence budget to pre-BCA levels is having a serious impact on America’s global strategic presence. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford warned in June: “Without sustained, sufficient, and predictable funding, I assess that within five years we will lose our ability to project power; the basis of how we defend the homeland, advance US interests, and meet our alliance commitments.”2 His comment was more than a bureaucratic bid for extra funding. Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and growing operational demands in Europe and Asia are taxing the military’s ability to procure, train, repair, and deploy its forces at sustainable levels. The US military cannot continue to modernise and fix these “military readiness” problems without greater political certainty and a commitment to higher spending. While there is no solution in sight to the defence budget crisis, there are signs that America’s strategic presence in Indo-Pacific Asia will be prioritised in this budget cycle. Congress has emphasised the need to strengthen regional capabilities in response to Chinese and North Korean challenges, including by increasing cooperation with allies and bolstering extended deterrence. Like the White House, Congress is allocating resources to some readiness issues – though not at levels that will satisfy the Pentagon – as well as supporting advancements in space, cyber, electronic warfare, and ballistic missile systems. Australia should welcome this sustained military engagement in the Indo-Pacific, but remain cautious about Washington’s ability to reverse the impact of budget uncertainty on the American armed forces.

How long is Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia?

Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia by Ashley Townshend is 12 pages long, and a total of 3,024 words.

This makes it 4% the length of the average book. It also has 4% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes and 16 minutes to read Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia aloud.

What Reading Level is Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia?

Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia is suitable for students ages 6 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia?

Trump, Congress and the 2018 Defence Budget: A Primer for Australia by Ashley Townshend is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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