[quote=spdrun]I said “Carter-era.” As in, total healthy disgust with the military and its employees after Vietnam. As opposed to today’s attitude of hypocritical soldier-hugging and cop-hugging.
Frankly, it’s good that the Soviets “went out of business.” But theirs was a flawed system, and cracks were showing well before the buildup of which we speak.[/quote]
Spdrun: Ah, I get it! Carter was AGAINST a defense build-up, before he was FOR it. Do I have that right?
Your lack of context illustrates a key point, especially when you start railing against the defense “parasites”: The reason that Carter started that major defense build-up, is that “the scales fell” from his eyes regarding Soviet intentions (especially following the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan) and his realization that negotiation, however well-intentioned, without the Big Stick was pointless.
I’d challenge you to come up with significant cuts in the defense budget in the face of a rapidly re-arming Russia and an aggressively growing Chinese military and one that is focusing on a blue-water navy. And, no, winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn’t count.
You’re fond of bloviating about the need for cuts. Okay. WHERE? Supply some actual facts or data (for any of your arguments) and cut back on the nasty ad hominem.
Oh, and the “Bush as war criminal” meme? You need to brush up on the War Powers Act and understand exactly how war is declared in the US before tossing that turd in the punch bowl. Or, acknowledge that, using your “reasoning” every US President since Truman is technically a war criminal.
