down sizing the military

[whitebeard21]

Who really downsized the military and why. Hint it wasn't a liberal.

For most of the eighties, Cheney served in the House of Representatives. In 1988, after the election of George H. W. Bush, he was named Secretary of Defense. The end of the Cold War brought with it expectations of a “peace dividend,” and Cheney’s mandate was to reduce forces, cut weapons systems, and close military bases. Predictably, this plan met with opposition from every member of Congress whose district had a base in peril.

Cheney was widely admired for his judicious handling of the matter. By the time he was done, the armed forces were at their lowest level since the Korean War. However, a Democratic aide on the House Armed Services Committee during those years told me that “contrary to his public image, which was as a reasonable, quiet, soft-spoken, and inclusive personality, Cheney was a rank partisan.” The aide said that Cheney practiced downsizing as political jujitsu. He once compiled a list of military bases to be closed; all were in Democratic districts. Cheney’s approach to cutting weapons systems was similar: he proposed breathtaking cuts in the districts of Thomas Downey, David Bonior, and Jim Wright, all high-profile Democrats. The aide told me that Congress, which was then dominated by the Democrats, beat back most of Cheney’s plans, because many of the cuts made no strategic sense. “This was about getting even,” he said of Cheney.

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040216fa_fact

[John Prophet]

they are upsizing now though, yes? (gotz planz in n korea and Iran)

[Warthog]

Bugging out of Germany, but moving into neighboring countries.

[zape]

actually, the AF is getting rid of 16k+ people in less than 2 years. I don't think they'll have a problem meeting that goal, but it's weird they're downsizing with all the fronts we're holding right now.

[MTAtech]

That article is true. That is why the F-14 was retired, because it was made by Grumann in Long Island. I have no 1st hand knowledge but i spoke to Navy fliers that said the F-14 was great.

In Sean Hannity's book "Let Freedom Ring," he said Clinton was "gutting" the US military. Here TABLE 1 is his table to prove it. However, when one adds Bush's budget, TABLE 2, Bush looks more like Clinton than Reagan. So, Clinton can't be accused of slashing the military unless one is also going to charge Bush with that too.

                              TABLE 1
Comparison of defense budgets          Reagan-Bush      Clinton  
                                       1986             2001      
New tanks in pres. budget	           840             0         
New tactical aircraft in pres. Budget      399            52        
New naval ships requested in pres. Budget   40             6         

This looks pretty bad.  Clinton must have been slashing the military.

================================================

                                          TABLE 2
Comparison of defense budgets          Reagan-Bush     Clinton  Bush/Cheney 
                                       1986             2001      2002 

New tanks in pres. budget	           840             0         0 
New tactical aircraft in pres. Budget      399            52        56 
New naval ships requested in pres. Budget   40             6         5 

[osprey4]

MTAtech is reading Sean Hannity?

Next thing you know, he'll be changing his avatar.

[TC]

Originally posted by zape
actually, the AF is getting rid of 16k+ people in less than 2 years. I don't think they'll have a problem meeting that goal, but it's weird they're downsizing with all the fronts we're holding right now.

The Air Force isn't downsizing. There is a cap of 359,000 airmen in the USAF and we are overmanned in certain career fields because of high retention rates and high recruiting rates. The USAF is just trying to bring it back down to where the force numbers are supposed to be.

I.E. THe USAF is 16k over-manned atm.

The 16K that will be leaving the USAF in the next two years will be voluntarily separated or can go into the Guard and Reserve. No one at this time is being forced out, and I don't believe there will be a need to force anyone to leave involuntarily.

[Prexaspes]

The F-14 was retired because it was old. Yes, it is a great aircraft. The F-18 Super Hornet is a greater aircraft.

[MTAtech]

Originally posted by osprey4
MTAtech is reading Sean Hannity?

Yup, can't talk about the lying liars if I don't read the lies.