Time: Fri Oct 24 10:08:02 1997
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Fri, 24 Oct 1997 07:41:12 -0700 (MST)
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 10:40:45 -0400
Originator: heritage-l@gate.net
From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar]
To: pmitch@primenet.com
Subject: SLS: Clinton fiddles while the military collapses (fwd)
<snip>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>JON E. DOUGHERTY
>USA FEATURES MEDIA CO.
>
>CLINTON FIDDLES WHILE THE MILITARY COLLAPSES
>
>OCTOBER 23--Hot off the news wire today is yet another report of an Air
>Force crash involving a T-38 trainer, which struck an F-16 in midair,
>while both planes were flying an aerial photo reconnaissance mission for
>a B1-B Lancer supersonic bomber in California. The F-16 pilot was
>fortunate enough to land his damaged aircraft in the desert; the two
>pilots in the trainer, however, were both killed.
>
>Dozens of accidents involving the nation's air power, which have caused
>the deaths of scores of fine pilots and weakened the morale in the ranks
>of the Air Force, have occurred over the past several months. A few
>accidents in a short period of time can be attributed to bad luck and
>coincidence, but a rash of crashes numbering almost 20 in half a year
>signals that there is a serious problem somewhere within the air branch
>of the armed services.
>
>And all we're hearing about from the nation's commander-in-chief is
>'globaloney' and 'fast track' authority for NAFTA II.
>
>Other than offering photo-op condolences, president Clinton appears as
>though he could care less about the nation's crumbling military
>preparedness. Even as North Korean army defectors reveal detailed plans
>to Senate committees about how that country intends to wage war against
>US soldiers in Asia, Mr. Clinton continues to live in denial about the
>critical mass of the military. What he needs to understand is that
>without a powerful, technologically superior military force to protect
>the interests of the country, all of the trade agreements and global
>warming treaties won't mean spit if we can't defend them. Besides,
>ordinary Americans will be too busy grieving the loss of their sons and
>daughters who will be slaughtered in the coming conflicts facing this
>nation to worry much about abstract treaties and political gamesmanship.
>
>About four years ago stories began surfacing about the deteriorating
>state of the military. Back when president Bush empaneled a gaggle of
>civilian/military experts to form the "Base Closure and Realignment
>Commission," he tasked them with deciding which bases and installations
>could feasibly be eliminated or downsized. They went about their work
>with vigor, and admittedly, there were a number of duplicate facilities
>and bases that came under the axe. When possible, the Pentagon should
>not be exempt from having its budget cut, especially if what it is
>providing is no longer needed. But at that time, critics of the plan
>were vocal about the dangers of creating a 'hollow force' reminiscent of
>the Carter years, and now -- some five years later -- it seems as though
>their worst fears have been realized.
>
>At present, dozens of units operate undermanned and under equipped.
>Speaking of Korea, many of the front line combat platoons there are
>without proper staffing and equipment, having to make due with less key
>personnel and worn out gear. This is something that the US military as a
>whole should never have to endure, let alone units that are within a
>stone's throw of the world's hottest flash point.
>
>The Air Force in particular has been hard hit. Many commanders and
>logistics personnel have reported a shortage of spare parts and an
>overall decrease in their maintenance budgets, forcing them to
>cannibalize grounded aircraft for spare parts to fix the ones that are
>still flying. Overextension has played a key role as well; you cannot
>fly the wings off your aircraft performing dozens of unnecessary
>'peacekeeping' missions while you simultaneously slash the budget to fix
>them as they wear out.
>
>Meanwhile, Congress and the Pentagon are considering even more cuts in
>personnel and budget, but no one is calling for a reduction in the number
>of deployments or missions the Clinton administration currently has us
>embroiled in. This is especially bothersome, considering the amount of
>money going to foreign aid in an already bloated budget of some $1.8
>trillion for fiscal 1998.
>
>Almost two trillion dollars, and we can't find enough money to fix
>planes or replace worn out soldier gear. Pitiful.
>
>Instead of calling for hearings to find out all of the specific reasons
>why his aircraft are falling out of the sky, Mr. Clinton has been content
>to globe trot and push agendas which will ultimately prove worthless,
>cost US taxpayers more money, and will likely involve even more missions
>for the nation's military. It's not that the hearings into the Clinton
>administration illegalities or the IRS are not important, but what is
>remarkable is that no one from Clinton on down to the most junior House
>representative seems to be too worried about the state of the military.
>
>If the GOP would like to regain some lost ground with the electorate,
>they should jump into this escalating problem with both feet. More
>Americans can relate to the importance of their armed forces than they
>can to Clinton's abstract treaty negotiations or the GOP's rattling on
>about capital gains taxes.
>
>In a couple weeks, Mr. Clinton will be hosting Chinese President Jiang
>Zemin, the leader of the biggest rival country we will probably face in
>the next century or before. Let's hope he and Zemin don't stand outside
>in the open if Clinton decides to honor the Chinese leader with an Air
>Force fly over. One of the planes is apt to fall out of the sky on top
>of them. ***
>
>(c)1997 USA Features Media Co. All Rights Reserved.
>USA Journal Online. http://www.usajournal.com
>
>"Read the news and listen to the radio--right from our site!"
>
>-------
>
<snip>
===========================================================================
Paul Andrew Mitchell, Sui Juris : Counselor at Law, federal witness 01
B.A.: Political Science, UCLA; M.S.: Public Administration, U.C.Irvine 02
tel: (520) 320-1514: machine; fax: (520) 320-1256: 24-hour/day-night 03
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_____________________________________: Law is authority in written words 09
As agents of the Most High, we came here to establish justice. We shall 10
not leave, until our mission is accomplished and justice reigns eternal. 11
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