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We have no clue what's really inside that Defense budget. First we look at the overall budget for this ugly war and then closely scrutinize the "off the books" emergency supplimentals. First thing to go are the No Bid contracts with an eye to eventually cut back on the contractors and force them to be far more accountable. Second, a review of the current status of our military preparedness...restoring cuts to veterans, improving health care and assuring the military what they need to fight (body armor, up-armored Humvees and other important items to help the forces survive in the morass they're in until we figure out how to get them out. Then, there needs to reform where the military is no longer a money dispenser to contributors. Right there, we'll save billions and also help the military in their existing mess.
The Democrats have a unique opportunity to grab the military vote in '08 if they become the protector of the "fighting man" vs. the largess of the contractors and civilian Pentagon hacks. Restoring benefits and helping military families past and present will go a long way in showing that we not only care about a strong defense, but in the people who provide that defense. Also, when the time comes that we do leave Iraq, we don't get sucked into the Vietnam game of "who lost the war". We know who lost it, so does the military...Democrats have a great chance to expand their new middle ground standing in ways that will neutralize the chickenhawks and reward the biggest victims of the boooosh regime: the man and woman in uniform.
Sadly there is no "peace"...thus we have no dividend. Cutting off funding to the war completely will give the Repugnicans an opening they don't deserve and lets them escape their culpability in the destruction of our military and security.
I suspect we're going to get some very unpleasant surprises once Democrats and American learn about all the shady dealings that went on between the Repugnicans and their cronies to run a war for profit.
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