GOP Candidates Pledge To Fix Unready, Rudderless US Military

By on January 15, 2016 at 10:38 AM

GOP Presidential debate jan 14 2016
WASHINGTON: The men who urgently want to be commander in chief of the United States military offered a glum vision of the state of the armed services last night.

Jeb Bush: In this administration, every weapon system has been gutted, in this administration, the force levels are going down to a level where we can’t even project force. Our friends no longer think we have their back and our enemies no longer fear us, and we’re in a much difficult — we’re in a much different position than we should be.

Donald Trump: Our military is a disaster.

Ben Carson: We have the world’s best military, even though he (President Barack Obama) has done everything he can to diminish it.

Marco Rubio: This president is undermining our military. And This president is more interested in funding Planned Parenthood than in funding the military.

All the candidates promised to fix this parlous state of affairs. All but Jeb Bush ignored the incontestable truth that the main problem lies with Congress and its inability to permanently fix the seemingly politically insoluble problem of sequestration.

Bush claimed deployment rates “are too high for the military personnel” and said not enough procurement is happening to replace aging gear. “We have to eliminate the sequester, rebuild our military in a way that makes it clear that we’re back in the game,” he said. But he didn’t mention Congress.

The GOP candidates’ vision stood in stark contrast to that offered by President Obama in his Tuesday State of the Union speech.

“I told you earlier all the talk of America’s economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close,” Obama told the world. “We spend more on our military than the next eight nations combined. Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. No nation dares to attack us or our allies because they know that’s the path to ruin. Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office, and when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead – they call us.”

But the GOP sees a different world. “And for the life of me, I have no understanding why the president thinks that everything is going well. Terrorism is on the run, China, Russia is advancing their agenda at warp speed, and we pull back,” said Bush.

Rubio put it this way: “And when I’m president, we’re not just going to have a president that gives a State of the Union and says America is the greatest country in the world. When I’m president, we’re going to have a president that acts like it.”

The most moderate response came from Chris Christie. “Military action, Maria, would be used when it was absolutely necessary to protect American lives and protect American interests around the world. We are not the world’s policeman, but we need to stand up and be ready.”

OK. But what will any of these men do differently once they encounter the sobering realities of power and perception delivered in the President’s Daily Brief? Hopefully, they or their Democratic opponents will begin with revamping the National Security Council and ensuring that the major government departments advise the president and execute his orders, instead of the NSC serving as a shadow cabinet. Then they can work on convincing Congress that sequestration must be abolished.

Comments

  • Born-in-Nairobi

    It is time for der U.S. military to stop being the main component in the universe underwriting U.S. foreign policy. Der recent flyby over Seoul by the U.S. B-52 bomber was definitely a 13-year-old caveman’s reaction to the tantrums of an eleven-year old kid.
    No need for der U.S. military to act as self-appointed nanny to the entire world.

    • Kenneth Vilhelmsen

      What planet do you come from ? In Pyongyang you have a young leader with the mentality of a 5-year old – and access to nuclear bombs – when children misbehave they need to be disciplined. Grow up baby-boy.

      • Born-in-Nairobi

        Grown men talk peace and progress but child cavemen (junior varsity types in the military ) want to play with doomsday scenarios and thier deadly toys all der time. Note – 2 copters crashed off Oahu just hours ago. Many killed. So sad.

        • Rocco

          What der hell are you talking about! Yes der what is der?? Germans say der! When referencing someone! And you care about the 2 helo crashes!!!??? Really! Do everyone a favor & shut the HELL UP!

        • Kenneth Vilhelmsen

          Grown men also talk war – only a naive childish fool like you would try to deny human nature. Note – every day cars crash, ships goes down and air planes crash – people die. Sadly – but it is a part of life.

    • CharlesHouston

      You have never heard of Neville Chamberlain, no doubt. Read up on him. We must remind dictators that there are consequences to their posturing and threatening.

      When a major disaster (earthquake, flood, etc) happens anywhere in the world – generally the U.S. military arrives shortly after with aid. That is our reaction.

    • Rocco

      You never have anything intelligent to say! Go back to where you came from!

      • Born-in-Nairobi

        I assume you have an I.Q. score of … easily below 20 !

  • Tribunal-Orders-Rape

    It is crystal clear we live in a caveman’s world. Welcome to the 21st century.

  • Robert Warner

    Would suggest that each of these potential “leaders” study the difference between “bow” and “stern”.

    • Kenneth Vilhelmsen

      And learn the difference between up and down and left and right……

  • berta

    Lately, U.S. presidents whether from the GOP or the Dems, like to use the military to enforce the so-called NWO. But the military is s-e-v-e-r-e-l-y controlled by a select group of very close knitted child cavemen who are backed by senile and/or ignorant leaders like McCain and ‘moderate Islamists’ lovers like Clinton funded by Big Time weapon makers such as Lockheed & Norhtrop a/k/a the evil merchants of death.
    As such, the incoming Potus in 2017 will likely continue the perpetual war policy demanded by the NWO. No wonder the world today is in such a so big mess.

    • CharlesHouston

      Poorly informed comments like your do not contribute to the conversation. Vague claims of conspiracies are also not taken seriously when accompanied by poor spelling, poor grammar, and random acronyms.

      • Rocco

        Thankyou!

  • Admiral Crossfire

    The truth is we still have the greatest military in the world hands down… even with sequestration. We spend the highest amount of money on our socialized military even with sequestration. We need to keep the pocket books full of our generals or they may turn their sword against us the civilian population of america. The military is full of American men and women but they are also paid terrorist in those ranks as well. We have to keep Cesar deployed or he will come home and sack Rome.. we need to get to reality in this world… we let people convince us that some street gang in syria, or Iraq or Afghanistan is a threat to us we are fulls. Our inelegant services haven’t been really to smart lately unless you look at the other way as intentional sabotage then yes they are the smartest entity in the world because they are turning the Republic into an oligarchy

    • Rocco

      You watch to much TV!!!!

    • CharlesHouston

      You have never been in the military, have you? You do not know people in the military, do you? Your comment is full of silly claims.

      You also cannot spell and do not understand capitalization – this helps let us know that you are not someone to seriously listen to. We should ignore you.

  • Clayton Adams

    You are actually giving credence to the clown posse? “Unready’? ‘Rudderless’? The largest and best military in the world? Really?

  • Reginald Bronner

    These clowns have no experience in uniform or out with the military and its needs. It is a clean sweep of ignorance. God help us if any of them get in the Presidency.

    • Rocco

      Lol you’re right!

  • CharlesHouston

    These candidates are trying to appeal to the fringe of their party, so they can get the nomination. As soon as one of them has the nomination they will retract most of these statements.

    All of them are spouting nonsense – for instance Jeb Bush. He is saying that the F-35 program has been “gutted”??? He knows the vast fountains of money that have been dumped into that program, regardless of cost overruns, performance problems, etc etc.

    Of course most of what Donald Trump says is hysterical – but he claims that the military is a disaster??? Does he feel that we should fire the people responsible, and does he think that the top leadership is in part responsible? Would he fire a majority of our Admirals and Generals?? Which Admirals and Generals would he fire??

    • Rocco

      Donald Trump would fire his mother! Or anyone that he don’t see eye to eye with. I admire his candor on telling it like it his! But he has not track records politically or abroad. I could just see him insult president Putin or …….! And make matters worse. He has no tact! Or class for that matter. So far none of the candidates in my opinion have any military experience enough to put us back in the game.

  • James Hicks

    Not my country but can I just say how embarrassed I am for the republican party right now?

    They seem to have been a complete mess since George Bush Snr left office.

  • entulling

    Outspending Russia and China on the military only helps if the spending is done wisely. But since the end of the Cold War US military spending involved starting and then ending procurement programs for no apparent reason. Hundreds of billions invested in r&d during the last 25-30 years and America still doesn’t have peace about its military capabilities? Is this wise spending?