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Examine the record (of Cheney vs Kerry on defense cuts)
Washington Times ^ | 8/20/2004 | Peter Huessy

Posted on 09/02/2004 3:44:58 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau

Sen. John Kerry's campaign defends his proposals to eliminate major U.S. weapons systems during his career as a senator by claiming Vice President Dick Cheney proposed similar cuts as secretary of Defense during the first Bush administration. The spin-doctors in the Kerry campaign responsible for these claims obviously know nothing of history. These claims are baseless for the following reasons:

(1) Mr. Kerry proposed eliminating 65 major U.S. weapons systems in 1984, including the ships, planes and missiles we currently have in our inventory that are the backbone of both our nuclear and conventional deterrent. If these proposals had been adopted, we would not now have a deterrent sufficient to defend America. It would be obsolete and ineffective.

(2) Mr. Kerry proposed these foolish cuts at the height of the Cold War, at a time when the United States faced its most serious peril in its history in the heavily armed and aggressive Soviet empire.

(3) Mr. Kerry asserts he learned important lessons from his service in Vietnam that provide him the basis for leadership in defense and foreign policy. However, when he proposed these cuts, most members of his own party ran in the opposite direction.

(4) In 1991, then-Secretary of Defense Cheney proposed cuts in our defense inventory at the end of the Cold War. He proposed reductions in the U.S. military in the context of the most sweeping arms-control agreements dealing with both conventional and nuclear weapons, including the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty and START I, the treaty eliminating nearly 6,000 nuclear weapons.

(5) Mr. Cheney also proposed replacing some of the reduced weapons with more modern weapons, such as the C-17 and the F-22, while also proposing to cut weapons that were over budget and not meeting technical expectations.

(6) On the other hand, ...

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cheney; defensecuts; huessy; kerry; votingrecord
One of the Dem talking points of today (after Zell's speech) was that Cheney proposed defense cuts similar to Kerry. Peter Huessy doesn't think so.
1 posted on 09/02/2004 3:44:58 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau
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To: PhilipFreneau

Looks like the democrats prefer a race between Cheney and Kerry. Wonder why that is.


2 posted on 09/02/2004 3:46:21 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The economy won't matter if you're dead.)
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To: PhilipFreneau

Chrissie tried that last night.

Then his "water carrier" O'Donnel was on with Hewitt trying the same thing.

O'Donnel also said that Chrissie is the best political talk show host EVER! (Barf!)


3 posted on 09/02/2004 3:46:50 PM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: PhilipFreneau
1991, then-Secretary of Defense Cheney proposed cuts in our defense inventory at the end of the Cold War

This is the key - Kerry voted against the BUILD-UP of Reagan era defense in the heat of the cold war.

To compare that to Cheney's work to realign the military AFTER the fall of the Berlin Wall is to compare apples and oranges.

4 posted on 09/02/2004 3:47:36 PM PDT by Steven W.
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To: PhilipFreneau
Cheney is not running for President, Commander in Chief of th Armed Forces... his record is a moot point
5 posted on 09/02/2004 3:48:51 PM PDT by Mikey_1962
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To: PhilipFreneau

Dem Talking Points = Knowing Lies

For anyone to pretend that Kerry has supported our weapons systems is assinine. I remember him fighting against them in the 80's. My memory works, Kerry's campaign lies.


6 posted on 09/02/2004 3:50:25 PM PDT by tomahawk
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To: cripplecreek
race between Cheney and Kerry

Will this be the comparison any time his senate record is brought up? This should be smacked down asap or they'll use it again

7 posted on 09/02/2004 3:50:26 PM PDT by DaveMSmith (CEO, VRWC: When you think treason, don't think Benedict Arnold - think JOHN 'Buzzard' KERRY!)
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To: NavySEAL F-16

"O'Donnel also said that Chrissie is the best political talk show host EVER! (Barf!)"


Matthews did one of the most unproffesional interviews ive ever seen. He literally rolled his eyes when Miller answered a question.


8 posted on 09/02/2004 3:51:17 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The economy won't matter if you're dead.)
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To: PhilipFreneau

BTTT. I'm always hearing this Dem talking point. Glad to have the proper info.


9 posted on 09/02/2004 3:56:47 PM PDT by I still care (Have you heard about the Democrat cocktail? It's ketchup with a chaser.)
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To: PhilipFreneau

Cheney voted to modernize the military. Kerry voted to decimate it.


10 posted on 09/02/2004 3:58:12 PM PDT by fhayek (Spitball veteran for Bush)
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To: I still care

>> I'm always hearing this Dem talking point. Glad to have the proper info.

Same here. I heard this talking point so many times today I suspected it was a lie.


11 posted on 09/02/2004 4:05:27 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau
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To: I still care

>> I'm always hearing this Dem talking point. Glad to have the proper info.

Same here. I heard this talking point so many times today I suspected it was a lie.


12 posted on 09/02/2004 4:05:27 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau
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To: Steven W.

"1991, then-Secretary of Defense Cheney proposed cuts in our defense inventory at the end of the Cold War
This is the key - Kerry voted against the BUILD-UP of Reagan era defense in the heat of the cold war."

I frankly don't remember and am too pressed to look it up right now but wasn't this in the middle of the huge debate about the "peace benefit"? The legislative branch generates the revenue expenditures and, under the circumstances, if Cheney had a Democrat controlled Congress imposing cuts on him, he had to cut something, right?
The Dems love a no-win situation. For everybody else.


13 posted on 09/02/2004 4:07:12 PM PDT by jim macomber (Author: "Bargained for Exchange", "Art & Part", "A Grave Breach" http://www.jamesmacomber.com)
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To: fhayek
Mr. Cheney also proposed replacing some of the reduced weapons with more modern weapons, such as the C-17 and the F-22, while also proposing to cut weapons that were over budget and not meeting technical expectations.

There is nothing wrong with this. In case no one has paid any attention, even in the midst of the current wars, Mr. Rumsfedl is also desperately trying to cut a military establishment that is bloated with many pieces ill-suited for modern missions. The problem with Kerry is that he never saw a weapons system that met his approval.

14 posted on 09/02/2004 4:11:13 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: fhayek

There is also nothing wrong with trying to cut back and dismantle the nuclear junkpile we had accumulated. We had no use for all of those weapons and trying to guard and maintain them is a enormous burden and distraction on a military whose chief missions have moved on to other things.


15 posted on 09/02/2004 4:14:08 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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