Retired General Warns US Military Not Ready for War with Peer Adversary

Eisenhower Media Network executive says US could lose a major conflict due to lack of resources and readiness

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Retired Major General Dennis Laich, executive director of the Eisenhower Media Network, has written a stark warning that the US military is not prepared to win a war against a near-peer adversary. Laich's analysis covers manpower, material, and money, concluding that the US has only won one war since World War II, tied another, and lost three - all against non-peer adversaries. The piece is seen as particularly timely given ongoing tensions between the US and countries like Iran.

Why it matters

Laich's assessment raises serious concerns about the ability of the US to prevail in a major conflict, especially given the country's history of losing wars against weaker opponents since 1945. It also highlights the massive, opaque, and unaccountable military-industrial complex that has emerged, fueled by endless wars and conflicts that often lack clear objectives or Congressional oversight.

The details

In his analysis, Laich directly questions whether the US could win a war against a near-peer adversary today. He warns that continued US aggression against weaker nations could provoke intervention from more powerful countries, risking a war that could end American democracy or even trigger nuclear war. Laich's critique covers the lack of manpower, material, and funding discipline in the US military, which he says has resulted in a track record of losing wars since World War II, except for a single victory in the 1990-91 Gulf War.

  • Laich's analysis was published on February 16, 2026.

The players

Dennis Laich

A retired US Army Major General who serves as the executive director of the Eisenhower Media Network.

Donald Trump

The former US president whose policies and approach to foreign conflicts are seen as contributing to the military's lack of readiness.

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What they’re saying

“Should America continue to bully weaker nations, more powerful nations could intervene, risking a war that could end this 250‑year democratic experiment, or worse for civilization, trigger nuclear armageddon.”

— Dennis Laich, Retired Major General (lewrockwell.com)

The takeaway

Laich's assessment underscores the need for a fundamental rethinking of US military strategy, readiness, and oversight to ensure the country is prepared to defend itself against true peer adversaries, rather than continuing a pattern of losing wars against weaker foes. This raises questions about the sustainability of the current military-industrial complex and the risks it poses to American democracy and global stability.