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Posted on 02/16/2016 10:19:38 AM PST by SoConPubbie
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Days before the primary in military-heavy South Carolina, Ted Cruz came to a warship here to deliver a detailed plan to rebuild America's military after what he called "years of neglect" under President Barack Obama.
"More tooth, less tail – that will be our guiding philosophy," Cruz declared.
In a sign of the speech's seriousness and importance, Cruz, who prefers to speak extemporaneously, stood at a lectern in a blue suit and tie and spoke from notes, with American flags and war planes behind him, aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown.
For much of the 2016 race, Cruz has sought a middle ground between the Republican Party's most hawkish wing, represented by Marco Rubio, and its libertarian wing, represented by Rand Paul. But ahead of the vote in South Carolina, where Cruz noted there are 400,000 veterans, he more forcefully aligned with the hawks.
"The world needs a strong America, and America must be strong if we are going to protect our great nation and the freedoms that we hold so dear," Cruz said. "It is clear now more than ever that far from being the hectoring menace to multiculturalism that Mr. Obama set out to humble, the United States is an indispensable force for global order and stability."
Cruz detailed his plans, as president, to add more troops, more ships and more airplanes to America's fleet. The speech was aimed in part to push back against any accusations, chiefly from Rubio, that Cruz is not sufficiently pro-military. Rubio's campaign put out a fact sheet attacking Cruz the moment he was set to take the stage.
As almost every Republican has for decades, Cruz sought to wrap his policies under President Ronald Reagans banner of "peace through strength."
"We will not go picking fights around the globe. The purpose of this rebuilt military is not to intervene in every conflict and engage in expensive and protracted exercises in nation building in countries who have scant interests in the institutions we want to impose on them," Cruz said.
Cruz also blasted "political correctness" in the military to cheers from the crowd, saying he would end "social experiments" like "providing gluten-free MREs" and that he would review a proposal to exempt the Marines from the requirement to allow women in combat positions.
One of his loudest applause lines was among his last: That, as president, "our sailors won't be on their knees with their hands on their heads," a reference to the images from an American ship recently and briefly captured by Iran.
Cruz waded into policy specifics, calling for 525,000 Army troops and a total active-duty force of 1.4 million across the various military branches. He called for rebuilding to 6,000 aircraft and 12 carrier strike groups.
"The nation must be prepared for the possibility of multiple, near- simultaneous conflicts," Cruz said.
Cruz did not abandon his prior calls for fiscal restraint. He still touted his plan to audit the Pentagon, and slammed the "bloated bureaucracy" there, including "some 12,000 accountants."
"There is far too much waste at the top - by those in government offices, and we have to get our fiscal house in order so that we can gain the confidence of the taxpayers to prioritize rebuilding our military," he said.
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Let’s carpet bomb....4x5 or 8x10 Ted....
Anytime a politician announces he will increase the teeth and decrease the tail, he’s blowing smoke. Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics.
Dear “Conservativesâ€,
WAKE up. We are broke. The era when we can have sacred cows in the budget like endless Defense spending is over.
Promising defense contractors blank checks is pandering, not leadership.
All the military might in the words is useless if you do not have the economic might to back it up. We MUST put our fiscal house in order rather then continue to promise every special interest group their their particular rice bowl is special and untouchable
EVERYTHING must be on the table to put our house in order.
Unfortunately nothing is ever put on the table things likeTARP and 600 billion missing dollars could easily fund three militaries. But no militaries mean no America when China and Russia are aggressively expanding. This is not about budget cuts this is about surviving to the next century
So you are for torture as a valid governmental resource? What could go wrong with that!
Even the article points out that this new hawkish “phase” started in SC, in front of sailors.
It’s called pandering.
You flamed Trump for ethanol pandering.
Glad to see Mr Principled Conservative is not a fiscal conservative at all, but just an extension of the “conservatives” that have never said no to a budget increase.
These uncivilized beasts burn people alive in cages, they chop peoples heads off. I do not think 'waterboarding' even begins to compare. Our military has been 'rainbowized'... Trump outed Cruz at the New Hampshire debate, and he sure has not been touting freely on the campaign trail his lawyerly work for old lord McCain. There are few Americans that have been more anti US military than old lord McCain.
Less tail... I know it means less tail to wag the dog but it is a nice double entendres vis a vis women/girls in the military.
Cruz waded into policy specifics, calling for 525,000 Army troops and a total active-duty force of 1.4 million across the various military branches. He called for rebuilding to 6,000 aircraft and 12 carrier strike groups.
"The nation must be prepared for the possibility of multiple, near- simultaneous conflicts," Cruz said.
Tactics:
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump is promising subsidized private health care for frustrated veterans...
I really do not understand the new level of discourse that unsubstantiated slander somehow is now valid if the target is not Trump. That being said, McCains sins along with the rest of the GOPe does not excuse electing a tough talking RINO as the solution for RINO’s everywhere.
Isn’t it more logical to try voting for a conservative like Cruz for a change?
There is no way in hell I would ever support legalized torture. The Jihadi are un-uniformed military. Follow the Geneva convention and execute them.
This current lawless government cannot be trusted, giving them the right to torture is beyond stupid.
WATCH: Cruz ad deploys Rep. Bridenstine against Rubio
Right now apparently the Governor of South Carolina is taking in Obama's Syrian refugees.... What possibly could go wrong? Have you been paying attention to Europe?
IF you are in the hell hole middle east, and you need intel then and there, you would not 'waterboard' a uncivilized beast to save yourself and your fellow soldiers? Like I said our military has become rainbowized.
Should be “More tooth, less behind”
I’m all in favor of those increases. He also said he would cut the tail to increase the teeth. You need the tail or there won’t be any beans or bullets for the teeth.
I am no longer in the Middle East, & I certainly don’t want that over here. I understand the use of torture I just don’t agree with it. It’s a two edged sword and right now I don’t trust Obama the same as I don’t trust any other Muslim dictator.
I think it would be far cleaner just Nuke the pukes. It is after all why we invented nuclear weapons, suicide bombers in World War 2.
Islam is a terrorist organization.
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