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 ...
What exactly are they cutting back on? They're reducing the size of the Army. Well, the Army isn't going to be a whole lot of use against China. They're retiring the A-10s, which are nearing the end of their lives and which support the Army mainly. But what else? Are they talking about reducing the number of carriers? Cutting back on the number of submarines? Downsizing the Air Force? These are the branches that will likely play a part in any conflict with China. If money is being taken away from the army to devote to the Navy and Air Force then that may not be such a bad thing.
Plenty of money for Obama to promote homosexualism, persecute American Christians and hand out billions in aid and armaments to radical muslims throughout the mideast and Africa.
Plenty of money for Michell’s multi-million dollar vacations with a few hundred of her best friends.
Plenty of money for free Obamaphones, free medical for illegals and to add millions more on food stamps.
Plenty of money for military arms, ammunition and equipment for the IRS, FEMA and other civilian agencies to equip their own para-military units.
But not enough money to keep the military strong.
Your reunions must be interesting affairs.
Anyone know where the 85 BILLION per month for years has been going?
the last time that question was asked was 9/10/2001
Why do we need an army and navy? Maybe we just need an air force and a few subs ? There will never be another world war—The last one was so bad—it was the war to end all wars. Look at all the peace we have had since 1945? We are in a new age—people are different now—less violence, racism, and murder. Its a new age of Peace! We can smoke pot in public, most Americans are high on pills, pot or booze! Who needs to work when we have TV and PCs? Free Food vis Food Stamps.
Haven’t been to any. Though there were a lot of great guys in my 1/1 Cav unit (armor), and even a few decent officers.
Part and parcel of Obama’s policy - if you can’t destroy the nation from inside, lure a foreign power into doing it from the outside.
Besides, the Democrats prefer to use the money to buy votes from corrupt Americans with various government give-aways and scams.
Its not the disaster you might imagine. As long as the general populace is well armed no foreign power would be stupid enough to take us on....exc Barry and his minions. I imagine those cut from the military will find a home at DHS. So, really the standing army hasnt been cut just shuffled around w/ a far less restrictive ROE. At the same time the liberals are pushing ‘gun control’ so they might completely consolidate their power.
The US is broke so where is the money going to come from to rebuild our military if obozo is allowed to destroy it? There are way too many skunks in the DC woodpile that are allowing the head skunk in the WH to orchestrate the demise of our country!! Tar and feathers? No, a firing squad!
I am in a quandary here. I do realize that the US has foreign enemies, but I also realize that the Federal government is the number one threat to my liberty and prosperity.
An observer of US history will note that the tragic consequences of such unpreparedness is that the time lag required to bring the armed forces up to a fighting posture when needed has always been paid for in the blood of young Americans and at exorbitant costs. If you think that is okay, I recommend that you see if you can find a survivor of the early period of the Korean war and inquire. There may still be a few of those heroes around, but very few. You perhaps can still find a WWII survivor and inquire as to how it felt to go up a German 88 with the weapons you had available. If you note, our forces were behind the power curve on the ground and in the air. Personally, I think it is criminal to knowingly put our forces in that position again.
Elections have consequences and the people spoke in November 2012.
Change the Q to “Is this a good time to end our role as world policeman and nation builder and defend the USA only? Hint: We are so broke we are borrowing from China and no matter which side we die for, we lose.
RE: I am in a quandary here. I do realize that the US has foreign enemies, but I also realize that the Federal government is the number one threat to my liberty and prosperity.
National defense is the priority job of the national government. Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution lists 17 separate powers that are granted to the Congress.
Six of those powers deal exclusively with the national defense—far more than any other specific area of governance—and grant the full range of authorities necessary for establishing the defense of the nation as it was then understood. Congress is given specific authority to declare war, raise and support armies, provide for a navy, establish the rules for the operation of American military forces, organize and arm the militias of the states, and specify the conditions for converting the militias into national service.
Article Two establishes the President as the government’s chief executive officer. Much of that Article relates to the method for choosing the President and sets forth the general executive powers of his office, such as the appointment and veto powers.
The only substantive function of government specifically assigned to the President relates to national security and foreign policy, and the first such responsibility granted him is authority to command the military; he is the “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States.”
National defense is the only mandatory function of the national government.
Constitution does require the federal government to protect the nation. Article Four, Section Four states that the “United States shall guarantee to every State a republican form of government and shall protect each of them against invasion.” In other words, even if the federal government chose to exercise no other power, it must, under the Constitution, provide for the common defense.
All the others -— healthcare, welfare, education, energy, job training, etc. should really be left to the states.
Here’s what the 10th amendment says:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
If we had strictly followed the constitution, wthis country would not be in the financial mess it is in today.
Our Federal government doesn’t follow the constitution with respect to individual rights; it is a rogue and treasonous. Should we give this regime any more power via the military?
What should really happen is we should throw out the usurpers, ie the regime.
My initial thought exactly. However will future wars be fought in the manner of WW2? Have technology and tactics made standing armies obsolete? Are drones, robots, and game joystick masters the future mainstays of our military?
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