I thought the NFL did a great job with its Veterans Day tributes. The tribute by the Steelers, though, was fantastic. Every conflict where a veteran was still living was represented.
I had the opportunity to talk to several active duty guys yesterday, as I'm in San Diego this week. Mostly Navy, even a few snake eaters, a few Marines. Morale with the snake eaters was high, but it's always high with them. The Navy guys I talked to, though, pretty much all said the same thing: the operational tempo is so high right now it's breaking up families and ruining lives. One senior guy I spoke with has had three deployments in the last two and a half years. The normal operational tempo is one deployment every eighteen months. But the Navy is not the only service facing a high operational tempo; the Army's combat units are also critically strained.
All three deployments occurred during Obama's first term. This is a hidden aspect of military life that doesn't get talked about enough, and a really good reason to avoid the fiscal cliff. The fact is that the capabilities of our military are being strained to the breaking point, and a trillion-dollar reduction in our defense budget will have consequences that we are not prepared for. The demands placed upon the military will not shrink in proportion to the budget. There are not enough troops, not enough ships, and not enough gear to accomplish the mission and give these men and women what they need.
Originally posted by sasquatch672So you'd oppose any cuts to the U.S.'s defence budget?
I thought the NFL did a great job with its Veterans Day tributes. The tribute by the Steelers, though, was fantastic. Every conflict where a veteran was still living was represented.
I had the opportunity to talk to several active duty guys yesterday, as I'm in San Diego this week. Mostly Navy, even a few snake eaters, a few Marines. Morale wit ...[text shortened]... and not enough gear to accomplish the mission and give these men and women what they need.
Originally posted by sasquatch672Alternatively, the US could stop trying to run the whole world ("our mission" apparently) and that would give our guys a break from killing people.
I thought the NFL did a great job with its Veterans Day tributes. The tribute by the Steelers, though, was fantastic. Every conflict where a veteran was still living was represented.
I had the opportunity to talk to several active duty guys yesterday, as I'm in San Diego this week. Mostly Navy, even a few snake eaters, a few Marines. Morale wit ...[text shortened]... and not enough gear to accomplish the mission and give these men and women what they need.
Just a thought.
Originally posted by sasquatch672I'm not sure you are aware of this, but the US can't impose taxes on other countries.
Any cuts to the defense budget should be offset by taxes on Europe, since the US provided for the continent's national defense for fifty years. The UK is exempt.
Glad to help.
Originally posted by sasquatch672Ha ha. No, but seriously, in terms of your current domestic debate on how to make your national ends meet, what percentage cuts to the U.S.'s defence budget would you support?
Any cuts to the defense budget should be offset by taxes on Europe, since the US provided for the continent's national defense for fifty years. The UK is exempt.
Originally posted by FMFUnless the military's mission is dialed back to a reasonable level, I really don't know where you would cut. I don't know how or where cuts could responsibly be made right now.
Ha ha. No, but seriously, in terms of your current domestic debate on how to make your national ends meet, what percentage cuts to the U.S.'s defence budget would you support?
Originally posted by no1marauderWhy not? Obama wants to allow the UN to dictate our gun control policies. Why can't we tax Europe?
I'm not sure you are aware of this, but the US can't impose taxes on other countries.
Glad to help.
http://www.themoralliberal.com/2012/11/12/obama-administration-pushing-un-gun-control-treaty-again/
Originally posted by sasquatch672So you wouldn't cut the military budget. You'd cut other things then: what for instance?
Unless the military's mission is dialed back to a reasonable level, I really don't know where you would cut. I don't know how or where cuts could responsibly be made right now.
Originally posted by sasquatch672Shouldn't the debate about defence budget cuts incorporate a discussion of how "the military's mission is dialed back to a reasonable level"?
Unless the military's mission is dialed back to a reasonable level, I really don't know where you would cut. I don't know how or where cuts could responsibly be made right now.
Originally posted by sasquatch672You really need to stop reading such demented right wing fantasies.
Why not? Obama wants to allow the UN to dictate our gun control policies. Why can't we tax Europe?
http://www.themoralliberal.com/2012/11/12/obama-administration-pushing-un-gun-control-treaty-again/
Originally posted by sasquatch672So you don't want discussion of how "the military's mission is dialed back to a reasonable level", as you put it? Your OP seemed to suggest you thought the military should be doing less.
I'd raise the retirement age for social security, and overhaul Medicare. Raise the age for that as well. You should not get to sit idle for a third of your life.