Thursday, September 28, 2006

You tell them, Tony!

Tony Snow fires back at the Clintons. Bill Clinton cut at least four divisions from the U.S. Army. He was also scattering the military all over the world on peacekeeping missions. His Administration capped B-2 production at 21. On his watch, the CIA carried out a human-rights "scrub" that meant CIA personnel couldn't use anyone with less virtue than Mother Theresa as a source. The U.S. Navy started decommissioning nine nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers, six of which were still very modern, and the 31 Spruance-class destroyers. We started selling off early Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and Los Angeles-class attack submarines, not to mention retiring the A-6 Intruder. The Air Force gave up its F-111 fighters and B-52G bombers, while losing a number of fighter wings.

And a number of Rumsfeld's retired critics were there at the time - and did not raise objections then. Wouldn't those four extra Amry divisions have been useful for the liberation of Iraq? Wouldn't the extra ships help us handle WMD proliferation? And the A-6s, F-111s and B-52Gs (not to mention the extra B-2s) would certainly be useful in extending the operational life of the current bomber force.

We are paying for Bill Clinton's peace dividend now. Thanks for nothing, Slick.

No comments: