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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ManyMoose who wrote (585596)	6/26/2004 7:02:29 PM
From: Kenneth V. McNutt	Respond to of 769670

I think Clinton is the one who started downsizing the military, not Rumsfeld. Clinton so reduced the DOD budget it encouraged Al Queda and others to continue attacking us. They knew he wouldn't/couldn't respond. The most experienced pilots in the world, Naval Carrier aviators, left the service in droves because they could not do what they were trained to do, fly, because of a shortage of jet fuel, due to the budget shortfall. A federal law states Military pay shall be on a level with private pay. Under Bush 1, the pay disparity was reduced to 5%. During Clinton's tenure it increased to a minus 13%, and many service people had to apply for food stamps and welfare assistance. The military received only two pay raises during Clinton's time. One before his second election, and one during Al Gore's run for the Presidency. The Clinton's held the military in contempt, and I believe the military felt the same way of them. KM

To: ManyMoose who wrote (585596)	6/27/2004 12:15:45 AM
From: jim-thompson	Respond to of 769670

Yes Clinton started the downsizing. However, Rumsfield shortly before 9-11 was telling the Pentagon to cut one Army division. Yes, we have too many GO billets. As the Army downsized, General Officer's fought to maintain their spaces. Rationale is that it takes the same expertise to manage and guide a smaller military. Rumfield threw the generals out of his office when they came in with their plans for the invasion of iraq. He told them we would go in light. Forced a mess of Generals into retirement and brought back one general who had been on the retired list for 3 years as a "yes" man.... and people wonder why our troops were rationing water, food and ammo after their drive to Baghdad. yeah, rumsfield does not want to discuss this. my position is firm, the sorry #$#$# needs to be fired....