|
I am the one your mother warned you about. Many of the points made are well taken and surprise surprise surprise! Most fit right into what Rumsfield has been pushing that caused many to speak about how ill-planned the militray efforts were in Iraq. Leaner meaner lighter faster. Iy was just proven - and rather dramatically, that such a military is mor efficient thatn that of our very recent past. We have some systems that are simply too old to keep updating. For example the B-52. We have some systems that have never been quite right that need to be replaced - our entire fleet of helicopters has always had problems. We are still using Vietnam and Cold War era equipment that should have been retired a long time ago - the A-10 needs to be replaced and most of the Navy's auxilliary fleet should have been scrapped and replaced fifteen years ago. Some of the current amphibious ships were built in the late 50's and early 60's. They are simply worn out and too expensive to operate. Many of the Navy's ships are obsolete - so obsolete they could not be operated cost-wise by anyone but the military.
Defense spending is part of our economy. Most of this money stays at home - (the navy is buying some ships from Italy). Does defense spending hurt our economy - yes it does - no it doesn't. it depends on how you spin it! Do we need the strongest military in the World? Hell man - lets try third or fourth place for a while and see how much respect we get for cutting back to that level.
__________________
Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, sometimes it's more like a jar of Jalapenos --- what you say or do today might burn your ass tomorrow!!!
|