FORTRESS AMERICA: THE PENTAGON PREPARES FOR BLACKOUTS. WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE?
The Pentagon wants major U.S. military bases ready to operate for at least 90 days without outside support. Its FORTRESS plan envisions independent power grids, portable nuclear reactors, stockpiles of fuel and ammunition, and civilian factories ready to produce military supplies. The message is clear: planners can no longer assume the next major war will stay overseas.
That raises urgent questions about civilian preparedness. America’s reliance on foreign-made electrical equipment has fueled concerns about power-grid vulnerabilities. Officials have investigated Chinese-made transformers and undocumented communications devices in power inverters, although a later Energy Department investigation found no evidence those devices were malicious.
Meanwhile, Britain’s defense secretary is urging households to keep emergency supplies for natural disasters and disruptions involving terrorists or hostile states. With Middle East tensions rising, what happens if electricity, communications, and supply chains fail together?
None of this proves an imminent global war or a secret plan. Preparing for catastrophe does not mean catastrophe is coming. But if military bases are planning to keep operating while surrounding infrastructure fails, Americans deserve to know the civilian plan.
Who keeps hospitals running, food moving, and communities connected? FORTRESS America addresses military survival. What protects the millions outside its gates? David Pyne joins me to discuss.