Posted on 06/03/2004 8:49:13 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Speaking at the Truman Library, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry detailed his plan to make America stronger by modernizing the world’s most powerful military to meet today’s threats. Kerry also announced a Senior Military Advisory Group of prominent retired admirals and general officers who are advising his campaign on defense and national security issues. “I am honored to have such a distinguished group of experienced military leaders and professionals working with me on the vital security challenges facing our nation,” said Kerry. (The full list is below.)
Kerry has said his national security policy will be guided by four imperatives: building and leading new alliances; modernizing the military; deploying all that is in America’s arsenal – the power of our economy, our diplomacy, our intelligence capabilities and our values and ideas; and freeing America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
“Today, in the post 9-11 world, we stand at another historic crossroad, at another moment when the old enemy is gone but we face a new threat,” Kerry said today. “We must change if we are to meet and defeat the danger. We must rebuild our military and prepare it for the risks and tasks of a new era.”
Citing a military that is overextended and troops that are overburdened, Kerry presented his plan to transform the world’s most powerful military to better address the modern threats of terrorism and proliferation, while ensuring that we have enough properly trained and equipped troops to meet our enduring strategic and regional missions. Kerry will: (1) expand our active duty forces, (2) double America’s Special Forces capability and increase other specialized personnel, (3) complete the process of technological transformation, and (4) redirect the National Guard for homeland security.
Despite all its talk of transforming our military, the Bush administration has done far too little to adapt our forces to the new missions they have to undertake. In Iraq, our National Guard and Reserves have been called up at historic levels. On the battlefield, many of our troops lack the latest equipment and technology, which can mean the difference between life and death. Just yesterday, the Administration issued “stop loss” orders, meaning additional burdens on thousands of soldiers because our military is stretched too thin.
“This has happened on the backs of the men and women who’ve already fulfilled their obligation to the armed forces and to our country – and it runs counter to the traditions of an all-volunteer military. Because they’re serving one tour after another, our soldiers are not getting the training they need or the rest they deserve,” Kerry said. “Military families are under incredible strain as it becomes harder and harder to balance the demands of family life and military duty. This is especially true at a time when more than half of our military is married – a dramatic increase since Vietnam. When you add it up, we are in danger of creating another hollow Army – a grave concern that I’ve heard time and again over the last few months from active duty personnel.”
To address the issues of readiness and an overextended military, Kerry called for:
40,000 Additional Active Duty Soldiers. The additional soldiers are not to increase troop levels in Iraq, but to relieve the current overstretch and to prevent and prepare for other possible conflicts. Eighty percent of the Army’s active duty combat divisions are either currently in Iraq, preparing to go, or have recently returned. Stressing that this situation has jeopardized our security, Kerry said additional troops will help alleviate the strain on our overburdened military.
A Doubling of Our Special Forces Capability. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Special Forces have proven that they are essential to winning the war on terror. Kerry’s increase in their capability will improve our ability to conduct counter-terrorism operations, perform reconnaissance missions and gather intelligence.
Modern Equipment and Technology for Our Troops. Kerry pledged to ensure our military has the most modern equipment and technology, saying we cannot have a 21st century military unless we are using 21st century technology. Kerry will arm every soldier with state-of-the-art equipment, whether it is body armor, weapons or the latest communications tools. He will accelerate the development of non-lethal technologies that can incapacitate the enemy without risking the lives of innocent bystanders, and create new counter-proliferation units that specialize in finding and destroying the most dangerous weapons before they can be used against us. He will also ensure that our troops have the training and the professional military education necessary to employ these technologies.
Transforming the National Guard. Kerry outlined his plan to make America safer by making better use of the National Guard for homeland security. Many Guard members are now serving abroad, away from their posts as first responders. Kerry will assign Guard units to a standing joint task force that will prepare and execute homeland security strategies with state and federal governments.
“Just as it was in the time of Harry Truman, and in all the years of the Cold War, the job of commander in chief is now central to the presidency,” Kerry said. “As President, I will use military force to protect our interests anywhere in the world, whenever necessary. But strong leadership demands more than the willingness to use force. It means directing the use of the right tools at the right time for the right purpose and the right cause. Only then will we be strong and respected around the world.”
Kerry, honoring our veterans and the men and women serving today, said “As President, I will always remember that America’s security begins and ends with the soldier, sailor, airman and Marine – with every man and every woman in our armed services standing a post somewhere in the world. Today, we salute each and every one of them for their commitment, strength, and extraordinary courage – especially those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They, like all veterans of wars past, deserve our prayers and then, when they come home, the respect and support of a grateful nation. After all, the first definition of patriotism is to keep faith with those who have worn the uniform of the United States.”
Below is the list of retired senior military flag officers who are advising John Kerry: Admiral William Crowe (USN, Ret.)
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General John Shalikashvili (USA, Ret.)
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Tony McPeak (USAF, Ret.)
Former US Air Force Chief of Staff
Admiral Stansfield Turner, (USN, Ret.)
Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency
General Joseph Hoar (USMC, Ret)
Former Commander-in-Chief, US Central Command
General Wesley Clark (USA, Ret.)
Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe
General Johnnie Wilson, (USA, Ret.)
Former Commander, US Army Material Command
LTG Daniel Christman (USA, Ret.)
Former Superintendent US Military Academy
LTG General Kennedy (USA, Ret.)
Former Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Intelligence
Vice Admiral Lee Gunn (USN, Ret.)
Former Inspector General, US Navy
Major General Harry Jenkins (USMC, Ret.)
Former Chief Legislative Liaison US Marine Corps
That was Dugan.
Big Time was the guy who pulled the trigger on that one.
When Clinton appointed Shalikashvili to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he effusively praised Shali's honesty (a subject about which Clinton knows little).
Shali, of course, is of Georgian (SSR) extraction and his father had been a general in the Georgia SS during the Second World War. Despite the fact that both father and son were general oficers, the younger Shali claims that he never discussed his father's military service with his old man.
Right then, we knew how honest Shalikashvili is.
How many of them serve on Soros foundations, like the International Crisis Group?
Admiral Crowe endorsed Clinton prior to the 1992 election.
I wonder if this list is anything like the "band of brothers" list, most of which were not consulted or asked if they wanted to be included, and have since come out publically saying that Kerry is not fit to be President and CIC. That would be a hoot if some of these retirees backfire on ol' Lurch.
You forgot Brigadier General Janis Karpinski. She has done more for Kerry's campaign than all of the others combined.
pesionice wrote: " ALL of these boys and girls...are on someone's payroll"
Good point! As far as McPeak goes, the Air Force has spent years steadily fixing and reversing everything he stood for. He wanted to treat the Air Force like a business, when any idiot knows the military doesn't fit the free market mold. A couple examples: an NCO cannot freely hire/fire his personnel--he must deal with what the recruiters supply him, and contracting agents can hardly reduce costs when they are buying one-of-a-kind parts for decades-old equipment. The military is most definitely NOT a business.
"I voted against modern equipment and technology for our troops before I speechified for them..."
where's zinni's name?
" Stansfield Turner is the one that has ME concenred "
Turner was on one of the cables this am absolutely apoplectic about Tenet's resignation. Said Tenet fell on his sword to cover for Bush,Bush is making Tenet the scapegoat for his failures, etc, etc.
It's pretty obvious that the Dems were planning on using Tenet as a cudgel to beat Bush over the head with in Nov and are angry that Tenet is gone.
Right. Then if all the neo-cons enlisted, Bush would not have to start the draft which like Vietnam would not go over too well on the college campus. The neo-cons could be called the Cheney Patriotic Brigades. Their enlisting should provide enough troops. Hopefully they do not have something better to do when their country needs them.
Well said and very true. My service experience exposed me to the phenomena that "peacetime" officers are, for the most part, political animals. Competent wartime officers, NCO's and soldiers appear from obscurity.
Since when is seconding our national security to the whims of France and the UN considered "leading" anything?
modernizing the military;
From the man who voted against virtually every moden weapons system
deploying all that is in America?s arsenal ? the power of our economy, our diplomacy, our intelligence capabilities and our values and ideas;
I.e., give them some money and maybe they'll go away
and freeing America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.
ANWR? The President's energy plan? Any of this ring a bell?
This "neo-con" spent eight years in the USMC, helping end the Cold War, and was rejected TWICE to come back on active duty after 9/11.
I don't recall seeing your pathetic sniveling a$$ out there on the ramparts of freedom, sonny boy.
You are a good man. BTW I hold a combat infantryman badge from an earlier war.
I've been getting really, really confused over this "neo-con" term as of late. You are one of the very few FReepers to describe yourself as such. It seems as if most FReepers claim that there is no such thing as a neo-con.
How would you define the term, especially with regards to domestic policy? I read an article by (I believe) Irving Kristol last week which was a bit unsettling. He claimed that neo-cons accept the growth of government as inevitable.
Kudos for your service in the Corps.
I used to work for Lee Gunn. Sorry to hear he's now supporting a socialist.
elbucko wrote: "peacetime" officers are, for the most part, political animals"
True. Do you think the retired admirals and generals on Kerry's team were promoted for bucking the system? Ha! I do seem to recall an admirable Air Force Chief of Staff who resigned rather than go along with Clinton, but these guys, for the most part, sold their souls for their stars.
I don't recall, in reading my history books, that Wendell Wilkie did or said things like this when he ran against Roosevelt during WWII. I'm not suggesting Kerry not say anything about Iraq but he should be aware that there is a thin line between what he is saying and doing and giving comfort to the enemy.
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