Posted on 02/25/2014 6:48:53 AM PST by SeekAndFind
According to news reports, the US military will be cut dramatically:
"Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has proposed shrinking the Army to its smallest size in 74 years through a series of base closures and troops cuts, and by completely eliminating several Air Force aircraft fleets.
The move comes as the U.S. Army moves into the final phases of a massive troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Congress raises new red flags about American deficit spending.
Hagel surprised some observers on Monday when he outlined a global military philosophy that removed America from the center of its universe.
[SNIP]
I oppose these cuts because they will confirm that the US is in retreat.
This is the wrong message when we have China rising and sending its warships around.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
We had a song about the day the music died, but progressives (demonrats and rinos) will sing their song with Pride for the day the Constitution died.
It is but a memory, not even an inconvenience now, to those sworn to uphold it.
Reagan was right about that generational window, which, since he left office, has been broken out, boarded up and now is covered with marxist graffiti.
The powers that be have thought that way before. After WWII and with the advent of nuclear weapons, boots on the ground were to be an antiquated ancient means of warfare. Then came Korea and Task Force Smith. Mutual Assured Destruction not withstanding, we have bled on the ground in numerous places anyway. The reason we now have young sergeants with 10 - 12 deployments was the Clinton reduction of the Army from a 16 to a 10 division force, his “peace dividend”, which necessitated more frequent tours. So we have increased rates of PTSD, suicide, and divorce for soldiers due to the stresses of back to back combat tours.
If one did not mind kicking over a few rice bowls to get there, completely restructuring the Armed Forces to look more like the USMC would provide huge cost savings. An organization where each deployable unit has its own air support, fire support, air and sea transportation assets, and a sustainable ground force. Get pilots out of aircraft, so the aircraft cost less. Eliminate the roles and missions arguments over rotary wing versus fixed wing aircraft and buy the most suitable aircraft for the job without it necessarily being one of two shades of blue or green. (Watch the reaction I get to this post).
Given the recognition of the realities of today’s politics, I can just pray the future price our young must pay in blood for Hagel’s plans can be minimized.
Once cannot be serious about cutting bloated, unnecessary spending while ignoring the Pentagon.
Correction = “one” not “once”
Appreciate your insight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.