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sailingaway
06-26-2011, 10:35 PM
Rep. Ron Paul Ramp Up Efforts to Scale Back Military Commitments

Read more: http://www.thestatecolumn.com/texas/rep-ron-paul-ramp-up-efforts-to-scale-back-military-commitments/#ixzz1QRouuidr


The six Members will now circulate the letter in the House of Representatives, asking other Members to co-sign the letter before it is finalized and sent to the President as well as House and Senate leaders.

The letter, addressed to President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Congressman Hal Rogers and Senator Daniel Inouye, requests a thorough re-examination of national security needs in light of the fact that “more than 21 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and 18 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, our military planning and appropriations process go on largely as it has since the 1950s.”

Members of the bipartisan group, who disagree on a wide range of other issues, express strong agreement that deficit reduction cannot be accomplished without substantial reductions in military spending.

Only a year ago, three of the House Members, Jones, Frank and Paul, along with Senator Ron Wyden, initiated an effort to cut U.S. military spending as part of deficit reduction. Despite the fact that for decades military spending had been considered a sacred cow, over the past year the idea that excessive military spending must be reduced as part of a long-term deficit-reduction plan has gained wider acceptance. The President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform recommended reductions in the budget of the Department of Defense of $100 billion by 2015. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has committed to significant cuts in military spending and has stated that more cuts will require a re-evaluation of America’s military mission. On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that Congressman Walter Jones, once seen as a “pariah” in his party for supporting military spending cuts, and Congressman Ron Paul, have become leaders in a growing conservative movement calling for a reduction in America’s overseas military commitments.

Representatives Campbell, Holt and Moore have joined the bipartisan effort to scale back excessive military spending and their commitment marks another important milestone. The six Members will now expand their efforts by seeking the support of their colleagues in the House.



Read more: http://www.thestatecolumn.com/texas/rep-ron-paul-ramp-up-efforts-to-scale-back-military-commitments/#ixzz1QRpIxP4v

Brett85
06-27-2011, 03:25 AM
It's too bad they have to frame this as "defense spending" when it has absolutely nothing to do with "defense."

flightlesskiwi
06-27-2011, 09:52 AM
i agree with this absolutely. but the way cutting "defense" spending has been translated up until now: keep on with the wars and pet projects and cut personnel and increase fees for retirees.

unless there is a big movement to get something done about our presence overseas-- and let me tell you, to be stationed at various OCONUS locations accompanied with family is considered a "morale booster" for many in the military, i can remember people whining and freaking out when Rumsy-field was planning on cutting back our presence-- this is what will happen: the DoD will have to cut, but they'll cut bodies, stressing the remaining force even more, just as they are now.

the solution: elect Ron!! bring them all home!! then tell the self-interested complainers to shut up and color.