Posted on 03/21/2014 12:40:45 PM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — The United States cannot “hollow out our armed forces,” in light of tensions around the world, said congressman Ron Barber (D), whose district in Arizona includes two major military installations.
Speaking during a press conference Thursday, which the Herald/Review attended by a video teleconference hookup from Tucson at Barber’s Sierra Vista’s office, the congressman said lawmakers have to ensure defense cuts are carefully thought through.
And currently he said it doesn’t appear the Department of Defense is doing that.
As for the Army’s announcement that Fort Huachuca could be facing a reduction of 1,700 soldiers and 1,000 civil service employees — albeit over a five-year period — and the Air Force’s announcement it wants to do away with the A-10 — the main flight mission at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson — Barber said the DOD has to justify these and other actions to Congress.
His press conference was about his trip to Afghanistan, from which he returned Wednesday, and the congressman said he and other members of Congress are concerned about proposed DOD budget cuts.
As a member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Barber said members of both sides of the aisle are concerned about proposed defense budget cuts. He and three other members of the subcommittee made the trip to Afghanistan.
The world is in a state with with many flashpoints, Barber said, noting North Korea remains a constant concern because it is led “by a troubled ruler.”
On the line between South and North Korea are a part of America’s military, supporting the nation’s South Korean allies and part of that contingent are A-10s “which are essential in a very volatile region” as well as for the support of ground troops, the congressman said.
In Africa there are a number of hotspots as al-Qaida and other Islamic groups continue to create problems. The Middle East remains a flash point and there is a growing concern about what Russian President Vladimir Putin will do next, Barber said.
When it comes to Putin, the United States has to keep its presence in Europe strong, especially to ensure former Soviet bloc nations, like Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who are now part of the the European and NATO communities, are protected, the congressman said.
To Barber, that means it is not time to continue the reduction of American forces in Europe.
The Army’s Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno has told the president the Army the service’s capacity to respond to threats are being harmed by continuing reductions, Barber said.
And if cuts are sought in future years, the harm to national defense will only become worse, he added.
Further cuts are putting America “into an untenable situation,” the congressman said, noting “The defense budget is unacceptable as it is proposed. Further reductions would be foolish.”
Obammy is gonna take him to the woodshed ASAP.
How about “Dangerous”.
He’s just saying this for the sake of the rubes back home in Arizona.
Why not just bring the boys home, put them on the North and South borders and start a massive deportation process. Talk about creating jobs. Plus the way they confiscate illegal earnings from suspected drug dealers, they can confiscate all assets along with deportation. Illegal earnings doncha know.
Sorry Ron, you didn’t get the memo?
Foolish, sir, is the very operating standard of the Obamadork administration when they are operating at the highest level of competence.
The far more standard mode of operation is “idiotic”.
That’s what happens when you elect the office boy as a replacement congressperson...
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.