[FairOpinion]

The Facts About Military Readiness (Sept. 2000 -- how Clinton slashed the military)

The size of the U.S. military has been cut drastically in the past decade. Between 1992 and 2000, the Clinton Administration cut national defense by more than half a million personnel and $50 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. The Army alone has lost four active divisions and two Reserve divisions. The number of total active personnel in the Air Force has decreased by nearly 30 percent. In the Navy, the total number of ships has decreased from around 393 ships in the fleet in 1992 to 316 today. Even the Marines have dropped 22,000 personnel.

[FormerACLUmember]

Statistical bump!

[mcg1969]

We have to be careful when we blame Clintoon for defense reductions during his tenure in office. After all, it is the Legislature that passes the budgets, and let's not forget who ruled the house for a good chunk of that time.

I'm inclined to agree with another poster who attributed many of these cuts to reasonable reductions in response to the end of the cold war.

That we didn't foresee the need to respond to a new war on terrorism is tragic, but rests on bipartisan shoulders. I'm simply grateful that the wakeup call happened on a Republican's watch because that means we've got a fighting chance of doing it right.

[Colonel Jim]

Yes, and we are still feeling the effects right now! "Do more with less"; "Right sizing". Unmitigated, pure hog wash!

[3catsanadog]

And weren't military personnel forced to rely on food stamps for their family's grocery needs?

I hope they don't need food stamps anymore under Bush.