Washington Examiner – by Paul Bedard
An amazing collection of 105 retired Navy admirals and two Marine Corps generals, including a former commandant, are warning that U.S. and global security could plummet if Washington cuts further into the naval service budget.
Citing demands from President Obama to do more to fight terrorism, piracy and provide disaster relief with a shrinking fleet, the brass said that the result of spending cuts will be poor morale and undependable readiness.
“We are concerned that if the Department of the Navy is required to continue to respond to crisis after crisis without the funding needed to build new ships, repair old equipment and provide routine maintenance to existing equipment, the nation risks permanent damage to our national defense and negative impacts on the domestic and international economies that rely on the safety and security that U.S. sea power provides,” said the letter sent by the service advocacy group Navy Now.
“As retired admirals and generals who have had the privilege of leading our military forces, we write to express our concern that the United States Department of the Navy is underfunded and overextended, placing our national defense, our Sailors and Marines, and the stability of the global economy at risk,” they added in the letter provided to Secrets.
The retired admirals included vice chiefs of staffs, regional commanders and aircraft group commanders. Retired Marine Corps Commandant James Conway also signed the letter posted below.
Among their demands:
— Build and maintain 306 ships (an increase from 289 today).
— Continue to provide vital combat support to our forces wherever they may be engaged.
— Update and maintain existing aircraft, invest in new designs and continue with critical modernization programs.
— Restore the fleet maintenance schedule that has been badly disrupted by 13 years of war combined with severe reductions in the number of ships.
— Replenish weapons inventories to required levels.
— Invest in the next-generation capabilities necessary for the Navy to remain relevant in the future.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted atpbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.
And who creates these “crisis”? Who are the “real” enemies, here?
105 Admirals and two generals need their heads hacked off for not arresting Obama, and for leaving the border open.
“Our safety” is threatened by an invasion over the southern border, you moronic, lying sack of stench. I can’t believe this ass-kissing Jew’s slave has the huevos to ask for more money.
Certainly is “an amazing collection” of either brainwashed @$$holes or openly complicit traitors. Either way it was time for their careers to have ended and they should be allowed the “honor” to die for who they have sworn their allegiance to.
And it’s not America.
war is the health of a nation.