This summer, when I was made aware that Ukrainian drone teams were constructing (in tents just behind the lines) and successfully deploying visually-guided and highly lethal drones “in real-time” and well beyond Russian lines, at a cost of around $500 US per drone, I realized that our own military could never possibly do that.

Not because there were no personnel who were CAPABLE of that, not because we lack the technology or the $$, but because the procurement process for ANY novel weaponry would mean that that weaponry would be obsolete years before it was ever available.

THAT MUST CHANGE.

At the accelerating speed with which ANY technology quickly becomes obsolete in the modern era, our military and our government cannot afford to fall behind due to lethargic and Byzantine procedures.

In the last year it has come to light that many of our Air Traffic Control locations are still getting by on computers requiring “floppy disks” to be fully operational!! That is NOT a function of any lack of funding for current hardware.

When that level of sclerosis infects our military branches, we are ALL at risk. Why? Because if you and I know this, so do those who wish us harm.