SENATOR KERRY FOUGHT TO SLASH INTELLIGENCE FUNDING BY AT LEAST $2.5 BILLION
1995: Proposed Bill Cutting $1.5 Billion From Intelligence Budget. Kerry
introduced a bill that would “reduce the Intelligence budget by $300 million in
each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.” There were no
cosponsors of Kerry’s bill, which never made it to the floor for a vote.
(S.1290, Introduced 9/29/95)
1995: Voted To Slash FBI Funding By $80 Million.
(H.R. 2076, CQ Vote #480:
Adopted 49-41: R 9-40; D 40-1, 9/29/95, Kerry Voted Yea)
1994: Proposed Bill To Gut $1 Billion From Intelligence And Freeze Spending For
Two Major Intelligence Programs. Kerry proposed a bill cutting $1 billion from
the budgets of the National Foreign Intelligence Program and from Tactical
Intelligence, and freezing their budgets.
The bill did not make it to a vote,but the language was later submitted (and defeated – see below) as S. Amdt. 1452 to H.R. 3759.
(S. 1826, Introduced 2/3/94)
1997: Kerry Questioned Growth Of Intelligence Community After Cold War. “Now
that that [Cold War] struggle is over, why is it that our vast intelligence
apparatus continues to grow even as Government resources for new and essential
priorities fall far short of what is necessary?
…” (Senator John Kerry Agreeing
That Critic's Concerns Be Addressed, Congressional Record, 5/1/97, p. S3891)
When His Bill Stalled In Committee, Kerry Proposed $1 Billion Cut As
Amendment Instead. Kerry proposed cutting $1 billion from the National Foreign
Intelligence Program and Tactical Intelligence budgets, and freezing their
budgets. The amendment was defeated, with even Graham, Lieberman and Braun
voting against Kerry.
(Amdt.. To H.R. 3759, CQ Vote #39:
Rejected 20-75: R 3-37; D 17-38, 2/10/94, Kerry Voted Yea;
Graham, Lieberman And Braun Voted Nay)
After all the above, he has the nerve to say this, after 9/11
12 Days After 9/11: Kerry Questioned Quality Of Intelligence.
“And the tragedy
is, at the moment, that the single most important weapon for the United States
of America is intelligence. … And we are weakest, frankly, in that particular
area. So it’s going to take us time to be able to build up here to do this
properly.”
(CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 9/23/01)
SEN. KERRY’S DEFENSE STRATEGY: CUT CRITICAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS
In 1996, Introduced Bill To Slash Defense Department Funding By $6.5 Billion.
Kerry’s bill had no co-sponsors and never came to a floor vote.
S. 1580, Introduced 2/29/96;
In 1995, Voted To Freeze Defense Spending For 7 Years, Slashing Over $34 Billion
From Defense. Only 27 other Senators voted with Kerry.
Fiscal 1996 Budget Resolution – Defense Freeze. “Harkin, D-Iowa,
amendment to freeze defense spending for the next seven years and transfer the
$34.8 billion in savings to education and job training.”
S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181:
Rejected 28-71: R 2-51; D 26-20, 5/24/95, Kerry Voted Yea
In 1993, Introduced Plan To Cut Numerous Defense Programs, Including:
Cut the number of Navy submarines and their crews
Reduce the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one
Reduce tactical fighter wings in the Air Force
Terminate the Navy’s coastal mine-hunting ship program
Force the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces in one year.
S.1163, Introduced 6/24/93
Has Voted Repeatedly To Cut Defense Spending, Including:
In 1993, Voted Against Increased Defense Spending For Military Pay
Raise. Kerry voted to kill an increase in military pay over five years.
S. Con.Res. 18, CQ Vote #73:
Motion Agreed To 55-42: R 2-39; D 53-3, 3/24/93, Kerry Voted Yea
In 1992, Voted To Cut $6 Billion From Defense. Republicans and Democrats
successfully blocked the attempt to cut defense spending.
S.Con. Res. 106, CQ Vote #73:
Motion Agreed To 53-40: R 38-1; D 15-39, 4/9/92, Kerry Voted Nay
In 1991, Voted To Slash Over $3 Billion From Defense, Shift Money To
Social Programs. Only 27 Senators joined Kerry in voting for the defense cut.
H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #182:
Motion Rejected 28-69: R 3-39; D 25-30, 9/10/91, Kerry Voted Yea
In 1991, Voted To Cut Defense Spending By 2%. Only 21 other Senators voted with Kerry, and the defense cut was defeated.
S. Con. Res. 29, CQ Vote #49:
Motion Rejected 22-73: R 1-39; D 21-34, 4/25/91, Kerry Voted Yea
Has Voted Repeatedly To Cut Or Eliminate Funding For B-2 Stealth Bomber.
H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #203:
Rejected 29-71: R 2-43; D 27-28, 9/26/89, Kerry Voted Yea;
H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #310:
Rejected 29-68: R 3-41; D 26-27, 11/18/89, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 2884, CQ Vote #208:
Rejected 43-56: R 8-36; D 35-20, 8/2/90, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 2884, CQ Vote #209:
Rejected 45-53: R 9-34; D 36-19, 8/2/90, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 1507, CQ Vote #174:
Rejected 42-57: R 7-36; D 35-21, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Yea;
H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #206:
Motion Agreed To 51-48: R 36-7; D 15-41, 9/25/91, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 2403, CQ Vote #85:
Adopted 61-38: R 7-36; D 54-2, 5/6/92, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 3114, CQ Vote #216:
Rejected 45-53: R 8-35; D 37-18, 9/18/92, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 2182, CQ Vote #179:
Rejected 45-55: R 8-36; D 37-19, 7/1/94, Kerry Voted Yea
Has Voted Repeatedly Against Missile Defense.
S. 1507, CQ Vote #171:
Motion Agreed To 60-38: R 40-3; D 20-35, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 1507, CQ Vote #173:
Rejected 46-52: R 5-38; D 41-14, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Yea;
H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #207:
Motion Agreed To 50-49: R 38-5; D 12-44, 9/25/91, Kerry Voted Nay;
S.2403, CQ Vote #85:
Adopted 61-38: R 7-36; D 54-2, 5/6/92, Kerry Voted Yea;
S.3114, CQ Vote #182:
Rejected 43-49: R 34-5; D 9-44, 8/7/92, Kerry Voted Nay;
S.3114, CQ Vote #214:
Rejected 48-50: R 5-38; D 43-12, 9/17/92, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 3114, CQ Vote #215:
Adopted 52-46: R 39-4; D 13-42, 9/17/92, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 1298, CQ Vote #251:
Adopted 50-48: R 6-36; D 44-12, 10/9/93, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. Con. Res. 63, CQ Vote #64:
Rejected 40-59: R 2-42; D 38-17, 3/22/94, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 1026, CQ Vote #354:
Motion Agreed To 51-48: R 47-6; D 4-42, 8/3/95, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 1087, CQ Vote #384:
Rejected 45-54: R 5-49; D 40-5, 8/10/95, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 1745, CQ Vote #160:
Rejected 44-53: R 4-49; D 40-4, 6/19/96, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 1507, CQ Vote #168:
Rejected 39-60: R 4-39; D 35-21, 7/31/91, Kerry Voted Yea;
S. 1507, CQ Vote #172:
Motion Agreed To 64-34: R 39-4; D 25-30, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 1873, CQ Vote #131:
Rejected 59-41: R 55-0; D 4-41; I 0-0, 5/13/98, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 1873, CQ Vote #262:
Rejected 59-41: R 55-0; D 4-41, 9/9/98, Kerry Voted Nay;
S 1635, CQ Vote #157:
Rejected 53-46: R 52-0; D 1-46, 6/4/96, Kerry Voted Nay;
S. 2549, CQ Vote #178:
Motion Agreed To 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-45, 7/13/00, Kerry Voted Nay
KERRY OPPOSED WEAPONS CRITICAL TO RECENT MILITARY SUCCESSES
Running For Senate In 1984, Kerry Promised Massive Defense Cuts. “Kerry in 1984
said he would have voted to cancel … the B-1 bomber, B-2 stealth bomber, AH-64
Apache helicopter, Patriot missile, the F-15, F-14A and F-14D jets, the AV-8B
Harrier jet, the Aegis air-defense cruiser, and the Trident missile system. He
also advocated reductions in many other systems, such as the M1 Abrams tank, the
Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Tomahawk cruise missile, and the F-16 jet.”
(Brian C. Mooney, “Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One,” The Boston Globe, 6/19/03)
Weapons Kerry Sought To Phase Out Were Vital In Iraq. “[K]erry supported
cancellation of a host of weapons systems that have become the basis of US
military might -- the high-tech munitions and delivery systems on display to the
world as they leveled the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein in a matter of weeks.”
(Brian C. Mooney, “Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One,” The Boston Globe,
6/19/03)
F-16 Fighting Falcons. “The Air Force would also play an important role
in strikes against high-ranking officials of the Ba’ath regime. On April 4, two
Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons dropped laser-guided munitions on the house of
Ali Hassan al-Majid, a.k.a. ‘Chemical Ali,’ in Basra.”
(Abraham Genauer,“Technology And Volume Of Sorties Overwhelmed The Iraqis’ Defenses,” The Hill, 5/21/03)
B-1Bs B-2As F-15 And F-16s. “On the night of March 21 alone, the first
of ‘shock and awe,’ coalition air forces flew nearly 2,000 missions. … Involved
were Air Force B-1B Lancers, B-2A Spirits, … F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16
Fighting Falcons…”
(Abraham Genauer, “Technology And Volume Of Sorties Overwhelmed The Iraqis’ Defenses,” The Hill, 5/21/03)
M1 Abrams. “‘[M1 Abrams] tanks were the sledgehammer in this war,’ added
Pat Garrett, an associate analyst with GlobalSecurity.org. ‘The tank was the
tool that allowed [the ground forces] to progress as fast as they did.’”
(Patrick O’Connor, “Revolutionary Tank Tactics Alter Iraqi Conflict, Future Of Urban Warfare,” The Hill, 5/21/03)
Patriot Missile. “U.S. Central Command says the Patriots … have improved
to the point where they intercepted nine of the Iraqis’ short-range al-Samoud 2
and Ababil-100 missiles in this conflict.”
(Andrea Stone, “Patriot Missile: Friend Or Foe To Allied Troops?” USA Today, 4/15/03)
AH-64 Apache Helicopter. “Recently, Apaches in Afghanistan achieved
success directly supporting ground troops. … Whether in shaping the battle in a
combined arms Warfighter-type fight where intelligence of the enemy is known, or
by conducting close combat attacks in direct support of a ground commander, the
Longbow Apache provides significantly increased flexibility and firepower for
U.S. Army forces …”
(Maj. David J. Rude and Lt. Col. Daniel E. Williams, “The ‘Warfighter Mindset’ and the War in Iraq,” Army Magazine, 7/03)
Tomahawk Cruise Missile. “The first operational use [of Tomahawk cruise
missiles] was in Operation Desert Storm, 1991, with immense success. The missile
has since been used successfully in several other conflicts … include[ing]
Bosnia … in 1995 and in Iraq again … in 1996 … [and in] strikes against training
camps run by Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan in 1998. Cruise
missiles were also fired during the air campaign over Kosovo in 1999.”
(Vivek Rai, “Cruise Missiles, By Air And Sea,” MSNBC.com, Accessed 7/17/03)
Aegis Air-Defense Cruiser. “During Operation Iraqi Freedom, [the Aegis
cruiser] Bunker Hill … was one of the first warships to conduct Tomahawk strikes
against leadership targets in Iraq. The ship launched a total of 31 missiles
during the war. Its embarked … helicopter detachment … supported the rescue of
United Nations workers being forcibly removed from oil platforms in the Northern
Arabian Gulf and provided medical evacuations from the Iraqi city of Umm Qasr.”
(S.A. Thornbloom, “USS Bunker Hill Makes Revolutionary Return,” NavyDispatch.com, Accessed 7/17/03)
During 1980s, Kerry And Michael Dukakis Joined Forces With Liberal Group
Dedicated To Slashing Defense. Kerry sat on the board of “Jobs With Peace
Campaign,” which sought to “develop public support for cutting the defense budget…”
(“Pentagon Demonstrators Call For Home-Building, Not Bombs,” The Associated Press, 6/3/88)
Running For Congress In 1972, Kerry Promised To Cut Defense Spending. “On what
he’ll do if he’s elected to Congress, Kerry said he would ‘bring a different
kind of message to the president.’ He said he would vote against military
appropriations.”
(“Candidate’s For Congress Capture Campus In Andover,” Lawrence [MA] Eagle-Tribune, 4/21/72)