Perilous Times, Drastic Measures

Posted Monday, December 14, 2009, at 9:43 AM

The changes suggested in our writing about military spending may be drastic but they are logical, and drastic times demand they be made. Ten steps will assure their success:

1.	We must stop trying to dominate the world militarily.
2.	We must accept that the world's problems are best solved by acting in concert with other nations.
3.	We must acknowledge the drain on our economy of current military spending.
4.	We must recognize the benefit to ourselves and the people of the world if military expenses are redirected to social needs.
5.	We must overcome inertia, carefully analyze military needs as they relate to defense of our country, recognize the real threats, and realistically prepare for the future.
6.	We must deal with the causes of profligate waste and eliminate them.
7.	We must whenever possible replace force and the threat of force with diplomacy.
8.	We must be sure that in the event military action is absolutely necessary our mission is clearly defined, force commensurate with the mission is provided, and we have a plan for the mission's end.
9.	We must learn more about the people of the world and their intentions toward us.
10.	We must elect public officials who accept these steps and hold them accountable for their fulfillment--Berkley Bedell and Jim Frost.

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Military spending has always been a large part of our government spending. It has ensured that when Conventional Diplomacy failed, our President had the tools to use in "Diplomacy by Other Measures".

The lack of Head to Head combat with the Soviet Union during the Cold War is the best proof of the effectiveness of the Miltary during those long scary years. This did not prevent their probing our resolve through the use of "proxies" and these "Tests" are the biggest reason to maintain adequate forces. Those levels are best determined by those who have been on the "Sharp End of the Stick".

From our Miltary budgets has come the development of the computer, aircraft and helicopter technology, rocketry, satellites, GPS, cell phones and too many items we take for granted have been funded by the military budget and their priority fueled by the need for these tools to ensure the security of our country and Allies.

The Military budget has also been a convienient place for our Congress to hide "Pork Barrel Projects". A designation given to projects that are supposed to benefit their constituents but are often used to "buy" their good will and vote, but often are "pay backs" for favors given during a campaign, or traded back and forth in a quest for power and prestige. Several Congressmen have used it to line their pockets. Some of them have been caught and are now in jail. Others have escaped.

While I agree that there are economies to be gained within the Military Budget, I disagree with your attempt to demonize the Military for the bloated budgeting done by our Congress. I agree that something must be done before we bankrupt our Country, but I believe that we must rein in our Congess first. Then we can move on to the easy stuff.

-- Posted by jonpeters on Sat, Dec 19, 2009, at 9:01 AM

Mr;. Bedell, Mr. Frost:

You write: "We must stop trying to dominate the world militarily."

Unfortunately someone is going to dominate the world militarily. Since you don't think it should be us, who do you believe it should be?

Cordially,

Jim

-- Posted by Jim Farrell on Sun, Dec 20, 2009, at 8:10 PM

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Berkley Bedell--Retirement from the U.S. Congress in 1987, neither dulled my interest in the well-being of the people of the United States nor my worries about our governance. I began work in 2006 on a book outlining the country's problems and offering solutions. Jim Frost--I share Berkley's concerns and in 2007 began the job of researching, editing and assisting with writing his book. By early 2009, after finally weathering George W. Bush and recognizing how much the past eight wasted years have set the world back, our focus changed. We had seen no meaningful progress in the efforts to stem the threat of nuclear weapons, reverse global warming, preserve natural resources, reduce military spending, fight disease and hunger, improve health care, deal with the increasing gulf between rich people and poor people, establish a workable economic system, or clean up the political process. For us, these three things became self-evident: First, the problems are global; the U.S. cannot by itself control or solve them. Second, the perfect storm of worldwide catastrophe is already upon us; what must be said cannot wait. Third, in seeking solutions, the problems must be put before as many people as possible as quickly as possible. This blog is the result. There will be much more. We invite you to participate.

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