I didn't say "Democrats" voted against these programs, I said Kerry did. Which apparently you are acknowledging, though you imply he also supported the programs but just opposed pork.
He did introduce a bill (alone) to cut defense spending. No pork there. He did vote to freeze defense spending for 7 years. No pork there, either. Those aren't necessarily bad votes; they're just things he voted for. A good number of his fellow Democrats didn't support him in these things, apparently.
Everything we have now was funded, trained and planned over the past five to ten years.
That's not true. Virtually all of those programs were funded and initiated long before the Clinton years. That's really the key point: For our military to have the tools necessary to perform its job and minimize casualties, the groundwork must be laid continuously, often decades before the tools are needed.
Here are the items I mentioned that Kerry voted against:
1. B-1 Bomber
First flight 1974
boeing.com
2. B-2 Stealth Bomber
Approved under Reagan over much Democratic opposition; first delivery December 1993. Kerry voted to cancel funding: boston.com
Plane avoids radar, helping preserve the lives of American pilots on missions which Kerry has recently voted to send them on (Afghanistan and Iraq).
airforce-technology.com
3. AH-64 Apache helicopter
Program approved for production 1982, first production finished 1984, during Reagan administration
boeing.com
4. Patriot Missile
First delivered December 1981
redstone.army.mil
Under Clinton, there was funding for some further improvements after the missile's limited success in Gulf War I
5. The F-15 jet
This has been around since the 1970's, when Kerry was against virtually all defense spending
af.mil
6. The F-14A jet
Produced 1972-1987
topedge.com
7. The AV-8B Harrier jet
Deployed 1985
geocities.com
8. The Aegis air-defense cruiser
First model installed 1973
tpub.com
9. The Trident missile system
The Trident missile program had deployments in the 1970's.
lmms.external.lmco.com
10. M1 Abrams tank (reduction)
Program began in 1972, first deliveries in 1980.
globalsecurity.org
11. Bradley fighting vehicle (reduction)
Introduced 1981
uniteddefense.com
12. Tomahawk cruise missile (reduction)
First operational use 1991
chinfo.navy.mil
13. F-16 jet (reduction)
Became operational in 1979
af.mil
Another interesting facts about Kerry is that even after Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait, Kerry voted against authorizing the use of force under UN auspices to eject him from Kuwait:
boston.com
Is this who we want in charge? |
