House Democrats unveil defense plan

[sabra]

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1105930.php

House Democrats unveil defense plan

House Democrats unveiled a 12-page plan on Thursday that they hope to use to shows they can be as tough on defense as Republicans.
The document, seven months in the making, includes a call for adding 100,000 troops to the active-duty force, paying more recruiting and retention benefits, finishing the modernization of military weapons and stepping up nonproliferation efforts for weapons of mass destruction.

While some Democrats have called for a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the leadership plan calls for adding troops, increasing efforts to train Iraqi security forces and trying to get more allies involved without any premature pullouts.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House Democratic Whip who announced the new strategy, said public opinion polls show veterans — even those who agree with Democrats on many domestic policy issues — question whether Democrats are willing to support a strong national security policy.

“Our opponents, of course, have preyed upon this perception and fostered it,” he said. “We believe it is important that the American people know that Democrats in the House are intensely focues on this nation’s security. We want them to know that Democrats will not hesitate to use force, when necessary, to protect our people and our country.”

[electropop]

1. If they want us to be militarily strong, they should support withdrawal.

:wtf:

[Verve]

2. Oh ! I thought it might be Defense against the Dark Arts...

KKKarl.:evilgrin:

They need a plan of attack for him too.

[Atman]

3. Oh, fuck. This must come from the DLC

Or Joe Leiberman, Bush Lite. Good, let the democrats get dragged into Bush's quaqmire, so the next president will have to resign in disgrace like LBJ.

Jesus, sometimes I wonder why I bother, as long as we have party leaders who want to be just like the other party.

[AX10]

4. Historically, Democrats have been the National Security...

Vietnam changed all that. I want the title back. Democrats know how to deal with National Security Issues.

[K-W]

8. Yep, wading deeper into the uneccessary quagmire

is definately the right way to deal with our National Security.

[killbotfactory]

5. Iraq is a money pit

We will never be able to stabalize it, and all it will do is waste lives, money and resources indefinately. It's great if you are a military contractor or in the military industrial complex, but it hurts the nation. We will never be able to rid the country of terrorists, unless we commit to genocide. It's insane to stay there.

[Mountainman]

6. Dems have been in the White House for most of our major wars.

Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lindon Johnson, Bill Clinton.


Also, most Dems served in the military. Dems have a long tradition of defending this country. Most Repubs are chicken hawks just like their supporters are.

[killbotfactory]

7. most republicans are parasites that feed on military pork

that's why they support unwinnable wars and idiotic, expensive weapons systems we don't need.

[brentspeak]

9. Since when have Democrats ever been "weak" on defense?

Who's whittled the nation's military down to the bone and made them an exhausted and frustrated fighting force? And sent them to a war for reasons the troops later discovered were completely bogus? And given away to profiteering corporations billions of dollars meant for to support troop operations -- but the troops are still waiting for body armor, as well a lot of other things?

Not Bill Clinton.

[jayfish]

14. Ever Since Mechanical Problems Doomed...

the rescue of American hostages in Iran. It's a bullshit red herring.

Jay

[creeksneakers2]

10. There is no money for this

Nobody is even threatening us. What do we need all this for? Because the GOP called us weak? So, we have to spend 100s of billions on stuff we don't need? Nuts!

[acmejack]

11. Cognitive dissonance

The majority of Americans support getting out of Iraq? Well, fuck 'em!

"the leadership plan calls for adding troops, increasing efforts to train Iraqi security forces and trying to get more allies involved without any premature pullouts."

Lets oversee a huge build up in troops, add 100,000 more. Budget strained, better modernize the most modern military in the world.

[davepc]

12. How about a real 'defense' strategy that involves

Cutting force levels in Europe and repositioning those assets in the United States.

Finishing realignment of the operational TOE. Less emphasis on division sized assets, and a move to brigade level forces able to operate independently. (This type of stuff started late in the Clinton administration and Rumslfield et al have continued it..its important)

A smart plan of equipment modernization that provides the best equipment to our forces but doesn't allow for billion dollar boondoggles like the Comanche helicopter and the Crusader artillery piece. Right now the system is broken, where high ranking officers looking to wrangle post retirement consulting jobs at defense contractors are the ones pushing procurement and development (often with congressional backing).

A re-emphasis of the budget on basic operations costs, instead of hardware procurement. Too much emphasis in the pentagon is placed on heading development projects while funding budgets of basic necessities of operations are raided for pet projects. The result is soldiers go without adequate equipment. This problem is especially apparent in the "second line" units in the Guard and Reserve. Why not a commitment to upgrade the guard and reserve?

More soldeiers isint a bad idea, as long as they are front line combat units. However, where will these bodies come from?

Increasing the size of the Coast Guard (which at present is underfunded for its mission and operating decades old equipment. Recent upgrade budgets for the Coast Guard were slashed by the Bush admin)

Increasing the size and budget of Customs and the INS (in my dream world that would happen in part by reducing the size and budget of the DEA and ATF)

Oh yeah, and a withdrawl from middle eastern countries who hate us.


But what do i know?

[OzarkDem]

13. Seven months for twelve pages?

Something is seriously wrong with my party.

[Zodiak]

15. This is stupid

Look at the numbers....our defense budget is eating this country alive, and Democratic "leaders" want to make it worse to score political points? This is MY party?

The Democratic party has no room for Machiavellian policies that toss this country further into the trash heap. Also, 65% of this country favors a pullout as of today. So the Democratic leadership wishes to defy the popular will of the people?

How is this a strategy for electoral victory? How can one win over "centrists" by pandering to the far right when the centrists agree with the left?

I think some of our turncoat Dems are beginning to show that they do not stand for eventual Democratic supremecy...they only serve to torpedo the efforts of progressives so we never have a voice again. Nice people!

[saskatoon]

17. DEemocrats

I HATE to say it but honest to god I beleive we need a third party. The Dem party today is a far cry from what it used to be and I don't think it is going to get better.

[underpants]

16. Why don't they just change their hats like W did?

that is the only tangible thing that W did to, with, or for the military before he decided to recreate the Roman Empire.

[Boredtodeath]

18. The Democratic party is dead

If there was any doubt, this puts all questions to bed.

[OzarkDem]

19. No, just the leaders in DC

Maybe we should go pay them a little visit to try and help them see outside the walls they live behind.

[Larkspur]

20. Where is Hoyer going to find recruits to increase the size of the Army?

Potential recruits are already giving thumbs down to the recruiting because of Iraq, not because of lack of recruiting bonuses.

Does Hoyer have any kids? If so we should send him military enlistment forms with the names of his kids on them.

[mike_c]

21. it's the Reagan democrats....

:puke:

[Dr Fate]

22. These DEMs are out of touch and one year or more behind the times.

Folks dont support the fake war anymore- and more Americans want to focus on domestic issues again, after Kartrina.

You cant add 100,000 troops- no one wants to go to that desert- this is an unrealistic "feel good" plan.

[RallyInDC]

23. this is a horrible way to do the plan....

no way. do full troop withdrawl first if you want to be strong on national defense!

america knows iraq was a mistake, get them out of there now! then worry about increasing all the military, geezuz.

[nwliberalkiwi]

24. Cut Back The Military

Cut back on the military. We are still isolated be two oceans and we have a nuclear arsenal. Save money for infrastructure projects and if we have a small military that slows down some stupid son of a bitch like Bush and the neo=cons from using US military illegally!

[ReaderSushi]

25. Split personalties.

The American people are of two minds when it comes to Iraq. While they no longer support the war because of the cost in blood and gold, they do not want to see political leaders call for withdrawal: It shatters the illusion that we are #1. Anyone who calls for a withdrawal however warranted will be "swift-boated" promptly.
Let be blunt: Americans are not good at compromise. The optimism that generally benefits us has turned to an arrogance that we can have it both way and the cognitive dissonance be damned.

[yurbud]

26. real defense plan should start with calling bullshit on War on Terror

and outlining causes of real friction with other countries.

Say which can and should be reduced by non-military means, and which will more likely require a military option.

Most importantly, explain why we are really in Iraq, to make sure that American companies get maximum profit from the world's diminishing oil supply, and ask Americans if that is worth our tax dollars and the lives of our soldiers.

It isn't.

[yurbud]

27. We should bombard the signatories of this with calls, email, faxes

with questions and reality checks.

[mmonk]

28. and the band plays on

[mmonk]

29. The politics of death

and popular opinion.

[txaslftist]

30. FUCK FUCK FUCK...They are SO yesterday.

[hopein08]

31. Why, oh why, can't the Democratic leadership get a brain??!!

I think that I'll add a new criteria for voting for a Democrat.

It will be "Do you, at some point, intend to seek a leadership position? Are you know a member or do you plan to be a member of the DLC? And do you believe that national security primarily means adding more soldiers and make more destructive weapons?"

If the answers are "yes/maybe, yes, and yes" or any roundabout way of say those little words...

THEY'RE NOT GETTING MY VOTE!! Democrat or not.