McCain: With focus on Middle East, readiness of Pacific forces suffering

Stars and Stripes ^ | March 10, 2005 | Leo Shane III

[Former Military Chick]

One MUST offer suggestions when one criticizes the military.

[Jeff Chandler]

McCain is pandering to his constituency-the Washington Press Corps.

[goldstategop]

Apart from critcizing the U.S military, Johnny McInsane's other preoccupation is to muzzle Americans' views.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Non-Sequitur]

And where is he wrong?

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

I don't like McCain very much at all but I agree with him on this issue.

[zarf]

Why do you guys reflexively slam McCain?

He's right to bring this up.

[x1stcav]

McCain is such a kvetcher. A damned whinger!

Christ! I wish for once he could keep his damned mouth shut.

[mark502inf]

Good point, zarf. McCain brings up some legitimate issues. Now, I personally don't agree with him--naval power is over-rated for deterrrence and of very limited value against our current enemies. But the whole idea of examining our global readiness with air, sea, and ground forces in the context of our war on terror commitments--as McCain was doing--is exactly what our government leaders should be working on.

[zencat]

He may still be upset at the Chi-Coms for Hotel Hanoi, and maybe he has a point, but come on. . .

[uncbob]

Where was McCain and the other GOP leaders when Clinton was gutting the military

[zencat]

Forgot to mention that B-2s were forwardly deployed to Taiwan.

[Williams]

Ditto. The developments with China are huge. I'm a solid Bush supporter, but we are doing without the increase in manpower and ships that may be needed to deter China. One of Reagan's great achievements was building up a great navy.

[Sun Soldier]

"I wish for once he could keep his damned mouth shut."

Why? You don't think we need to maintain our naval strength around the world?

[Righty_McRight]

The Arizona Republican criticized the military for not yet determining if Japan will allow a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the USS Kitty Hawk when it is decommissioned in 2008, and he said the total number of ships in the region has dropped too quickly in the last several years.

Don't tell me they're like New Zealand..."You can't have nuclear vessels in our waters".

[Non-Sequitur]

He isnt wrong, but whats he accomplishing by this?

What would be accomplished by ignoring the situation and not asking the questions that need asking?

[Jaysun]

One MUST offer suggestions when one criticizes the military.

Huh? I actually think he got one right here. Good going McCain, that's one in a row.

[Sola Veritas]

"but said he worries that not enough attention is being paid to the military’s ability to react to China and North Korea, the next “challenges” the U.S. military will face."

Senator, our primary/immediate concerns are in the mideast. We cannot be everywhere at the same time. So, we concentrate forces where the need is greatest and reduce them elsewhere. This is called "economy of force."

Indeed, we are taking a risk, but I consider it a necessary one. Also, realistically speaking, could we really take on Red China? Not without using nuclear weapons. So, concentrating large amounts of conventional forces in the Pacific might not be a good idea.

[Sun Soldier]

"Where was McCain and the other GOP leaders when Clinton was gutting the military"

Gen. Powell drew up the blueprint for the drawdown of our military and President Bush approved it. Clinton made additional reductions but the major gutting was already in progress when he took office.