Second, institutional inertia prevents our military and defense industrial base from adapting to the speed of modern warfare. Mobilization Begins With Political UnityAdvertisementEvery successful American mobilization has begun with a common understanding that the nation faced a serious threat. During World War II, the Korean War, the Reagan military buildup, and after September 11, political leaders, military leaders, industry, and the public largely coalesced around the truth that we had to act. AdvertisementA genuine war footing would require emergency appropriations, industrial mandates, expanded production, supply-chain restructuring, long-term procurement guarantees, and bipartisan political agreement. Only Patriotism Makes Mobilization PossibleThe final obstacle is one few political leaders are willing to acknowledge.