EVEN FELLOW DEMOCRATS WARNED KERRY ABOUT HIS DANGEROUS CUTS (RNC Research)

Republican National Committee ^ | March 9, 2004 | RNC Research

[PhiKapMom]

EVEN FELLOW DEMOCRATS WARNED KERRY ABOUT HIS DANGEROUS CUTS

Kerry’s Senate Colleagues Warned His 1994 Six Billion Dollar Intelligence Cut Proposal Was Too Deep And Ignored Terrorist Threats

_______________________________________________________________________

FELLOW DEMOCRATS WARNED AND ADMONISHED KERRY

Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), Chairman Of Senate’s Select Committee On Intelligence

Kerry Amendment Would Cut Intelligence Budget By Six Billion Dollars.  “Mr. President, the Kerry amendment includes a $1 billion cut in fiscal year 1994 and $5 billion over the next 5 years from intelligence activities.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Senate Already Slashed Intelligence For FY 1994.  “Last year I was able to put the votes together in the Intelligence Committee for a $1.2 billion reduction in fiscal year 1994 intelligence spending. The Senate appropriaters cut an additional $100 million from the President’s intelligence request.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Previous Cuts “As Deep As The Intelligence Community Can Withstand”.  “I continue to believe today that last year’s intelligence cut was as deep as the intelligence community can withstand during its post-cold-war transition.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Previous Cuts Were 13% Reduction From 1989.  “Overall, intelligence resources have been reduced in real terms more than 13 percent compared with 1989 appropriations.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

“[W]orld Remains A Dangerous Place …”  “Yes, the world has changed. We no longer face the same sort of threat to our survival that we faced during the cold war. But the world remains a dangerous place and an uncertain place. We continue to face challenges to our Nation’s interests all around the world.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Nuclear Weapons And Other WMD Still Threaten U.S.  “There are still nuclear weapons out there which are targeted against the United States and whose control we worry about. There are countries not friendly to us which seem bent upon developing their own weapons of mass destruction.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Senate Must Consider Future Military Deployments Before Cutting Budget.  “We still face the possibility that U.S. military forces might be deployed around the globe to accomplish a variety of missions.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

U.S. Not Immune From Terrorist Attack.  “We no longer seem immune from acts of terrorism in the United States and the scourge of narcotics has hardly abated.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Kerry’s Amendment Would “Close Our Eyes And Ears” To Gathering Threats.  “We have to stay ready. It makes no sense for us to close our eyes and ears to developments around the world which could ultimately save U.S. lives and resources.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Intelligence Committee, On Which Kerry Served, Had Already Addressed Issue.  “The Intelligence Committee has taken a long hard look at what we are spending on intelligence. We have attempted to strike a balance between the need to reduce the deficit and the need to maintain an adequate capability.”  (Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), World War II Veteran And Chairman
Of Senate’s Defense Appropriations Sub-Committee

Inouye Also Spoke On Kerry’s Amendment.  “Madam President, if I may, I would like to say a few words about amendment No. 1452, an amendment submitted by the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Kerry].”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Raised Concern Over $1 Billion Cut In FY 1994 Intelligence Funding.  “Now if I may comment on another section that reduces funding for intelligence programs, and this amendment would reduce such funding by about $1 billion.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Kerry’s Proposed Cut “Would Severely Hamper” Intelligence Efforts.  “Madam President, the intelligence budget has already been cut by almost 18 percent over the past 2 years. An additional reduction of $1 billion would severely hamper the intelligence community’s ability to provide decision makers and policymakers with information on matters of vital concern to this country.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cuts Ignore Threats Of North Korean Proliferation And Terrorism.  “These issues include nuclear proliferation by North Korea – this has been on the front pages for the past 3 or 4 months – peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and Somalia, as well as terrorist threats against American citizens and property.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cut Would Force Termination Of Programs Essential To National Security.  “Congress has worked in close partnership with the intelligence community to refine the intelligence budget without detrimentally affecting this country’s national security. This reduction, as proposed in this amendment, would result in a termination of programs and activities that are essential to the security of this Nation.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cuts Ignore Threat Of Serbia And Bosnia.  “I hope that when we consider the Kerry amendment, we will keep in mind the following: I am certain, whether we like it or not, we will have to consider the events that are now unfolding in Bosnia. I think it would be wise to anticipate that we may be soon considering air strikes, air strikes by our United States Air Force and Navy attack aircraft against Serbian artillery positions.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cuts Would “Blind” Military Pilots.  “At a time like this, is it prudent to reduce funds for the very intelligence programs which we need to identify these targets? This amendment would do that. It would blind our pilots.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cuts Would Hurt Ability To Give U.S. “Forces Warning Of Attacks”.  “Is this the time to cut the satellite programs that give our forces warning of attacks? I hope that we will keep this in mind. It is on the front pages of every paper.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Cuts Would Put “Blindfolds Over Our Pilots’ Eyes”.  “Are we or are we not going to participate in the bombing of Bosnia? If we do and this amendment passes, then we are putting blindfolds over our pilots’ eyes.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Amendment Would Leave Our Troops Vulnerable To Attack.  “Madam President, if we expect the 1 percent of our Nation to risk their lives and stand in harm’s way, the least we can do is to provide them with all of the resources necessary so that they can carry out their mission and get home to their loved ones. We cannot do any less. This amendment would take away their protection, and I am not prepared to do that.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Inouye Urged Defeat Of Amendment.  “I urge all Members to vote against this amendment.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

Peace Is Not At Hand.  “It is not a problem then for consideration at this time. I hope the time will come, Madam President, when we can slash the Defense Department to almost nothing, when peace will come upon this planet. But much as we dream about that moment, that has not arrived yet.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

U.S. “Confronted With Madmen, Terrorists.”  “As long as we are confronted with madmen, terrorists, and countries with strained agendas, I think it would be prudent on the part of the United States to maintain a ready force of men and women who are willing to stand in harm’s way.”  (Sen. Daniel Inouye [D-HI], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, pp. S1330-S1332)

KERRY PROPOSED SLASHING INTELLIGENCE BUDGET

In 1994, Kerry Proposed Amendment To Gut Intelligence Budget By $6 Billion Across The Board.  (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)

ü      Kerry’s Amendment Cut $1 Billion From FY 1994 Budgets Of The National Foreign Intelligence Program And From Tactical Intelligence And Related Activities. (Amdt. To H.R. 3759, CQ Vote #39: Rejected 20-75: R 3-37; D 17-38, 2/10/94, Kerry Voted Yea; Kennedy, Graham, Lieberman And Braun Voted Nay)

ü      Kerry’s Amendment Also Froze $5 Billion In Intelligence Funding From Future Years. Kerry’s amendment would also freeze authorized funding for Intelligence at FY 1994 level for fiscal years 1995 through 1998.  (S. Amdt. 1452, Introduced 2/9/94; Sen. Dennis DeConcini [D-AZ], Congressional Record, 2/10/94, p. S1360)

ü      75 Senators, Including Sen. Ted Kennedy, Voted Against Kerry’s Amendment. (Amdt. To H.R. 3759, CQ Vote #39: Rejected 20-75: R 3-37; D 17-38, 2/10/94, Kerry Voted Yea; Kennedy Voted Nay)

Proposed Cuts Would Have Hurt All Intelligence Programs And Military Readiness:

ü      U.S. Code: National Foreign Intelligence Program Encompasses All Aspects Of Intelligence Community Programs And Efforts. “The term ‘National Foreign Intelligence Program’ refers to all programs, projects, and activities of the intelligence community, as well as any other programs of the intelligence community designated jointly by the Director of Central Intelligence and the head of a United States department or agency or by the President.”  (50 U.S.C. § 401a-6)

ü      Tactical Intelligence And Related Activities Provide Vital, Time-Sensitive Support For Commanders And Soldiers On Ground.  Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities include “[t]hose activities outside the National Foreign Intelligence Program that accomplish the following: a. respond to operational commanders’ tasking for time-sensitive information on foreign entities; b. respond to national intelligence community tasking of systems whose primary mission is support to operating forces; c. train personnel for intelligence duties; d. provide an intelligence reserve; or e. are devoted to research and development of intelligence or related capabilities. Specifically excluded are programs that are so closely integrated with a weapon system that their primary function is to provide immediate-use targeting data.”  (“Tactical Intelligence And Related Activities,” Department Of Defense Dictionary Of Military And Associated Terms, http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/, 6/5/03)

[PhiKapMom]

Kerry is against the Intelligence Community but wants to be President? This is outrageous!

[PhiKapMom]

Can someone tell me how anyone could support a candidate that is against our Intelligence Community?

[hoosiermama]

Sure! They have no intelligence.

[Paul Atreides]

Yet, those same Dims would support Kerry in a heartbeat, even if he ran on a platform of abolishing national defense and letting terrorists run riot.

[Paul Atreides]

Can someone tell me how anyone could support a candidate that is against our Intelligence Community?

Well, when you don't stand for anything in the first place....