Undefended USA
The below letter to the editor is by Robert "Bob" McDowell, Jr. He is a Professional Engineer and Geologist with over 50 years experience in creating drilling prospects, supervising drilling, well completion, production operation, and pipeline design for oil and gas including repair of problem wells. McDowell is a conservative and active in the Oklahoma Republican Assembly.
By Bob McDowell: History has recorded that each time a war in which we (the USA) have been involved has ended, there was a mass reduction in the size and preparedness of our military defenses. There was a reference to this in the farewell speech made by the first President, George Washington, where he warned against maintaining large standing armies. At that time, in the 1780's, there was small likelihood that an enemy could pull off a surprise attack of substance, such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, or the Nazi 'Blitzkrieg' invasions of the 1930's. The simple fact of slow transportation and communication served to prevent any such major action, thus leaving a time period for the attacked people to rally around, arm themselves, and mount an effective defense.
In our own recent history, from the 'War of Secession' in the 1960's (misnamed the 'Civil War' as a 'Civil War' is one to bring down a government as is a 'Revolution') there has been a repeated action of dismantling the military and its equipment, not to mention a major slow-down or cessation of research, development, and manufacturing of more effective equipment, methods, and tactics.
In my education, there were history books about the mistreatment of visionary generals and admirals who following the end of World War I were put down. And, in some cases they were court-martialed by the 'establishment' (our government and their military command). For example, General Billy Mitchell, who claimed that it was possible for the Japaneses military to threaten the U.S by sinking our battleships with bombs from airplanes. Mitchell demonstrated this. He was then court-martialed for insubordination after accusing Army and Navy leaders of an "almost treasonable administration of the national defense." He was proven right via the attack on Pearl Harbor and after his death, he was posthumously awarded the Congregational Medal of Honor.
After President Reagan rebuilt our defense capability, over the objections of the 'peace at any price' members of his opposition Democrat party, as well as some very misguided members of his own, his successors proceeded to reduce the capacity for defense. Thus we had the deplorable situation repeated of sending our troops into battle with inadequate equipment and in insufficient numbers for the task to be accomplished. The result was unnecessary loss of life of both military and civilian personnel and delays in being able to respond to the threats at hand.
It should be remembered that the singularly primary purposes of Federal government is the defense of our Nation, its national interests, and its citizens. This includes the defense and protection of the borders, threats by enemies to our businesses, and to our citizens. Unfortunately, there are too many in government, at all levels, who have chosen to ignore this requirement in order to have more money to spend on building their power base and or to seek re-election for themselves.
This is the very situation which our Nation now is facing. The Federal Government and some of our state governments have wastefully spent so much money and have created such massive debt that the tax burden and threat to our future generations is crushing our economy and even causing money to leave our country.
With the Obama Administration too rapidly evacuating the operations in the Middle East and proposing major reduction in defense spending, it appears that previous history is about to repeat itself. First hand reports to me indicate that there is now a major thrust to reduce the recruiting process and to promote a large reduction in forces by not re-enlisting highly qualified enlisted members and releasing officers from active duty. Once again, we are downsizing and ignoring the global threats and focusing on spending on non-constitutionally required items and areas.
Finally, because of the extensive and, in my opinion, improper use of National Guard members in overseas operations, the well being of Guard contingents have being denigrated. I submit a more proper use of the Guard would be to dictated their annual active duty period being spent on the borders, with live ammunition, to defend the Nation. Construction battalions could practice their trade by building a truly effective 'fence' along the border with Mexico, like the Israelis have done. We should not have an "undefended USA."
Tags: Bob McDowell, Oklahoma, letter to editor, Undefended USA, United States, military, Constitution, defending our borders, defending America, reduction in forces To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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| Bob McDowell |
In our own recent history, from the 'War of Secession' in the 1960's (misnamed the 'Civil War' as a 'Civil War' is one to bring down a government as is a 'Revolution') there has been a repeated action of dismantling the military and its equipment, not to mention a major slow-down or cessation of research, development, and manufacturing of more effective equipment, methods, and tactics.
In my education, there were history books about the mistreatment of visionary generals and admirals who following the end of World War I were put down. And, in some cases they were court-martialed by the 'establishment' (our government and their military command). For example, General Billy Mitchell, who claimed that it was possible for the Japaneses military to threaten the U.S by sinking our battleships with bombs from airplanes. Mitchell demonstrated this. He was then court-martialed for insubordination after accusing Army and Navy leaders of an "almost treasonable administration of the national defense." He was proven right via the attack on Pearl Harbor and after his death, he was posthumously awarded the Congregational Medal of Honor.
After President Reagan rebuilt our defense capability, over the objections of the 'peace at any price' members of his opposition Democrat party, as well as some very misguided members of his own, his successors proceeded to reduce the capacity for defense. Thus we had the deplorable situation repeated of sending our troops into battle with inadequate equipment and in insufficient numbers for the task to be accomplished. The result was unnecessary loss of life of both military and civilian personnel and delays in being able to respond to the threats at hand.
It should be remembered that the singularly primary purposes of Federal government is the defense of our Nation, its national interests, and its citizens. This includes the defense and protection of the borders, threats by enemies to our businesses, and to our citizens. Unfortunately, there are too many in government, at all levels, who have chosen to ignore this requirement in order to have more money to spend on building their power base and or to seek re-election for themselves.
This is the very situation which our Nation now is facing. The Federal Government and some of our state governments have wastefully spent so much money and have created such massive debt that the tax burden and threat to our future generations is crushing our economy and even causing money to leave our country.
With the Obama Administration too rapidly evacuating the operations in the Middle East and proposing major reduction in defense spending, it appears that previous history is about to repeat itself. First hand reports to me indicate that there is now a major thrust to reduce the recruiting process and to promote a large reduction in forces by not re-enlisting highly qualified enlisted members and releasing officers from active duty. Once again, we are downsizing and ignoring the global threats and focusing on spending on non-constitutionally required items and areas.
Finally, because of the extensive and, in my opinion, improper use of National Guard members in overseas operations, the well being of Guard contingents have being denigrated. I submit a more proper use of the Guard would be to dictated their annual active duty period being spent on the borders, with live ammunition, to defend the Nation. Construction battalions could practice their trade by building a truly effective 'fence' along the border with Mexico, like the Israelis have done. We should not have an "undefended USA."
Tags: Bob McDowell, Oklahoma, letter to editor, Undefended USA, United States, military, Constitution, defending our borders, defending America, reduction in forces To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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