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In a year of strange things, there’s a Democrat party convention going on right now.

It’s all “virtual.”

The “presumed” nominee for president, Joe Biden, has been virtually invisible since March.

His pick for Veep, Kamala Harris, dropped out even BEFORE Julian Castro and Cory Booker suspended their campaigns, and before a single primary vote was cast. Clearly not a front-runner for president – at least then.

But now, Democrats are supporting her as just a heartbeat away. Oh well.

So, against that backdrop, we present the Democrats’ plans to overhaul the U.S. military, per their platform document, should Joe Biden be elected president in November.

Party platforms are approved every four years during the presidential convention process and are meant to be guiding principles for political leaders. They’re not set in stone. They’re not law, but they give a flavor of what the party — or at least the key delegates — are thinking. A wish list if you will.

The draft Democrat party platform document has 10 major sections.

1. Protecting Americans and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Building a stronger, fairer economy.
3. Achieving universal, affordable, quality health care.
4. Protecting communities and building trust by reforming our criminal justice system.
5. Healing the soul of America.
6. Combating the climate crisis and pursuing environmental justice.
7. Restoring and strengthening our democracy.
8. Creating a 21st Century immigration system.
9. Providing a world-class education in every ZIP code.
10. Renewing American leadership.

“Transforming our Armed Forces for the 21st Century” falls under the very last point.

The very first point in that section is to end forever wars, which just so happens to be something which Donald Trump promised during his 2016 campaign. In order to achieve that, the platform calls for repealing the Authorizations for Military Force against al- Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. Considering the latter is dead, it would seem reasonable.

Under the section on “Securing our Competitive Edge,” climate change gets a shout out: “we believe the implications of climate change for national security and the Department of Defense can no longer be an afterthought, but must be at the core of all policy and operational plans to secure our vital interests.”

As far as defense spending, the platform notes “We spend five times more in Afghanistan each year than we do on global public health and preventing the next pandemic.” Therefore, we need to “rebalance our investments, improve the efficiency and competitiveness of our defense industrial base, conduct rigorous annual audits of the Pentagon, and end waste and fraud.”

The Democrats pledge to reverse the Trump Administration’s “hateful transgender ban and its policies that stigmatize and discriminate against people living with HIV and AIDS.” They believe the force is “stronger when it reflects the richness and diversity of American society, pledging to root out systemic racism” and will “fight the scourge of rape and sexual assault.”

In addition, there’s a pledge to modernize VA facilities as part of a nationwide infrastructure plan — but not privatize it.

The document also devotes a section to the tragedy of service member suicides, and identifies the need for more support and resources for mental health care.

And in a final shot across the bow at the president, Democrats promise to “end the Trump Administration’s politicization of the armed forces and distortion of civilian and military roles in decision-making.” Rather than “issue commands by tweet,” we will “safeguard the independence of the military justice system and not pardon war criminals.” (Hopefully they’re not referring to Navy SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher, that last point).

Sooo…what do you think? Anything you can get behind?