Mattis also proposed a new round of base closings, beginning in 2021.
...and who was Commander in Chief during those years? That is correct, Barrack Hussein Obama.
A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.
The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:
Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.
First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]
Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.
I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.
I will not weaponize space.
I will slow our development of future combat systems.
And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.
Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.
You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.
Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp
"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
These are he guys who actually do the work for the big guys who act as integrators.
They were wiped out by the 1990s defense cuts and the supplier network was rebuilt and carefully nurtured after 9/11
Most had big debt loads from capitol spending to invest in the production equipment meet the DOD requirements for the war on terror. They were close to 100% dependent on government DOD contracts, all of which were canceled overnight by the sequester.
Many did not survive and went Chapter 11 soon after.
I’m not a big fan of further base closings.
We’ve cut enough. Get to work and build up our military.
Quit downsizing and calling it something else.
I’m shocked that a general and now Defense Secretary thinks the world needs to know about our combat readiness.
From the article:
“During the wide-ranging hearing, Mattis sought congressional approval to shutter excess military bases — a move the Pentagon concludes will save billions of dollars but one that lawmakers have previously rejected.”
Why would you not want unused facilities shuttered? From the rest of Mattis’ testimony I get the impression that he wants to seriously build up our services. The fact of the matter is that Congress has always stood in the way of base closures because they mean jobs for their constituents, and federal bucks going into local communities. But that is a chickenshit attitude that works against the county’s military readiness. The last time they closed bases, they had to set up a “Commission on Base Closures,” and even then Congress diddled it. It’s way, way past time for this crap to stop, and the RINOs are just as guilty as the RATs here.
I’m sorry if some retired military have their favorite officer’s club, golf course or base shopping shut down for the good of the country. The current troops are the only one’s that should be considered here.
We know what the military has been doing.
“Armed forces plan to celebrate LGBT Pride Month”
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/5/armed-forces-plan-to-celebrate-lgbt-pride-month/
Not me.
Hey! They all got their transgender troops training on time! They are ready!
And some receive special anti American indoctrination training at one of the most expensive training facilities in the country. Exhibit A: Reality Winner.
How much did the DOD spend on LGBT celebrations and there are a whole lot of other things that the DOD wastes money on that have nothing to do with fighting a war. We need to get back to the mentality we had when we had a Department of War. But I don't see that coming back anytime soon.
Kill People and Break Things and nothing else.
Eisenhower warned us of the military industrial complex but when he did we were flush with cash. We no longer are.
I’ve seen nothing from Mattis on cleaning up the contract corruption at the Pentagon. More than enough money for readiness if corruption were cleaned up.
Instead he sounds like the head of the local teachers union saying there isn’t enough money for books in the school budget, and by the way, we need to jack teachers’ salaries up still further before the district can afford any books.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Mattis said Congress has “sidelined itself from its active constitutional oversight role” by failing to deliver a steady stream of funding to pay for new weapons and other critical gear.
...
But they supplied critical sex change operations.
What we DO NOT need is overseas land bases, power projection or an army beyond what is needed to dominate our home continent and environs. Of course the military industrial complex has succeeded in producing a cowering and illogical fear of non-existent threats and endless crises, so there will be no end to unneeded defense spending.
We need more regular troops. Obama cut our military and depended on the Special Ops people to take up the slack. Then they made the training easier so that they could push through more bodies.
This is just patently wrong.
We need to use Special Ops for special situations.
Bring their training back to the levels of 30 years ago and make up the difference by growing the standard troops.
Not everybody can be elite and cutting back on training to pass more bodies diminishes the Special in Special Ops.
Of course the military is combat unready. The current primary mission for the Army organization I’m affiliated with is to have 100% of our personnel receive DoD Transgendered Policy and Respect training during the next two weeks.
Patton: Where are your leggings?
Surprised Soldier: But, sir! It's only a quarter to 8.
Patton: From now on, you will open at 6 and no one will be admitted after 6:15.
Patton: Where are your leggings?
Surprised Soldier: Leggings? Well, hell, general, sir, I'm a cook.
Patton: You're a soldier.
I would blame constant and inconclusive wars wearing out men and equipment, but never allowing them to return victorious.
Mattis ‘surprised’? He retired in 2013. He didn’t notice anything wrong while he was an Obama lackey? Trust in Mattis is entirely misplaced.