Kerry Makes Terrorism Go Away (As a political issue)

Knight Of The Mind ^ | Saturday, July 31, 2004 | .cnI redruM

[.cnI redruM]

In response to the first attack on the Twin Towers in 1993, Kerry had the following suggestion for improving America's intelligence gathering.

SEC. 301. RESCISSION OF FUNDS FOR INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLIGENCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

Of the funds made available in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1994 (Public Law 103-139), $1,000,000,000 is rescinded, to be derived from programs and activities of the National Foreign Intelligence Program and the Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities.

Kerry's response to terrorist threats seems to be this. If the American people aren't aware of terrorism, maybe the issue will go away....

Oh, and to make sure it stays gone, Kerry offers the following addendum to his rescission.

SEC. 1301. FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS FOR INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLIGENCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

The total amount authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 1995 through 1998 for the National Foreign Intelligence Program and for Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities may not exceed the amount (adjusted for monetary inflation after fiscal year 1994) that is made available for fiscal year 1994 for such program and activities (taking into account the rescission in section 301).

So he cuts $1bil from the 1994 Intelligence Budget and then attempts to add a proviso that that $1bil will stay cut every year thereafter. In the evolving world of net-centric warfare, we would be reduced to a warning system of 1 if by LAN and 2 if by C.

[.cnI redruM]

Putting kerry on the Senate Intelligence Committee was an act of cynical irony.

[.cnI redruM]

Thanks for the valuable insights on Kerry's record of Senate "Intelligence".

[b4its2late]

Putting kerry on the Senate Intelligence Committee was an act of cynical irony.

Not to mention a TERRIBLE MISTAKE......

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Kerry's response to terrorist threats seems to be this. If the American people aren't aware of terrorism, maybe the issue will go away....

A rehash of the Clinton plan.

[.cnI redruM]

Not to mention a TERRIBLE MISTAKE...

Details

[b4its2late]

That's IMHO. No real details, just observing how he has behaved all these years wanting to cut, cut, cut, then play the blame game when the agencies screw up.

[Milligan]

Question:

When did Kerry served in the Senate Intelligence Committee?

I was looking at the Senate votes during that time. It appears that every Democrat and Republican Senator was degutting the military and the intelligence community. . Should we only blame Kerry?

The Democrats are saying Cheney downsized the same military programs as Kerry.

Devil's advocate.

[Milligan]

No takers for post #7?

[Alas Babylon!]

I'll take it, as I was on active duty at the Pentagon then. We were cutting our large forces that existed to face the Soviet behemoth that had just collapsed under its own contradictions. It was the right thing to do at the time. SecDef Cheney at that time (1991/2) wanted to cut those large forces and redirect funds into intelligence, research and development, and quality of life.

Unfortunately Clinton won in 1992 and Cheneys top-to-bottom review and force restructure was sunk under SecDef Les Aspin, who hated defense spending, cut everything. Congress (Kerry and Kennedy leading the charge) gladly assisted. The democratic-controlled Congress saw this so-called "Peace Dividend" as a way to redirect funds into social programs.

[Milligan]

Thanks for the facts.
Kerry's camp are trying to say Cheney was trying to dramatically downsize the military too. I don't think Cheney wanted to get rid of M-1 tanks, F-15's, B-2 and other important weapon systems. Looking at Kerry's record he wanted to cancel every weapon system. Kerry is not a friend to the military. God help us if Kerry gets elected.