THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VII, Issue # 78, April 8, 2005
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
RESTORING AMERICA'S MILITARY STRENGTH
By Thomas G. Tancredo
ENHANCING AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY BY INCREASING THE STRENGTH & READINESS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED
FORCES: ENSURING THAT THE U.S. MILITARY IS THE BEST TRAINED & BEST EQUIPPED FIGHTING FORCE IN THE WORLD --
WINNING THE WAR AGAINST ISLAMIST TERRORISM, & FACING THE NEW PROBLEMS & CHALLENGES GENERATED BY THE NEW
KIND OF WAR WE ARE FIGHTING
FULL STORY:
Strengthening American national security should be a major priority for the U.S. Congress. Congress must bolster the U.S. military,
which is increasingly called upon to engage in operations around the world with decreased resources. Our men and women in the
Armed Forces deserve the best training and equipment and a better quality of life.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I am continuing to support increased funding for our Armed Services, and for
their increased readiness. We, the members of Congress, have seen and felt first hand what the effects of a depleted military can
be. The U.S. Air Force is suffering from shortages in pilots and cutbacks in training flights, due to funding decreases during the
years of the Presidency of Bill Clinton. Since January 20, 2001, and the inauguration of George W. Bush as President of the U.S.A.,
the Bush administration has done much to rebuild our military, but the post September 11, 2001, War on Terror has taught us that
there is far more work to do.
MILITARY READINESS
Our Armed Forces must be the best trained and best equipped fighting force in the world in order to ensure massive superiority
over anyone we meet on the battlefield. The U.S. Department of Defense has embarked on a multifaceted effort to improve readiness
today and in the future. As part of that effort, the Defense Department and Congress have attempted to clarify the scope of a
number of federal environmental laws that hamper ongoing military training and testing activities.
The changes are designed to save the lives of America’s young men and women by preparing them and their equipment for combat
on the first day of battle. A battlefield is not the place for soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines to learn how a military tactic or
weapon really works. It is often said that we need to train as we fight. Unfortunately, existing environmental laws require our military
to sometimes fight as they train. With the many restrictions placed on military training and weapons testing in recent years by laws
like the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty, training is losing its realism. Having to "unlearn" artificial training
restrictions can have serious implications for soldiers on the battlefield. The battlefield is not the place to learn these skills.
As regards the bill to make changes in federal environmental laws, the "sustainable readiness initiative" is narrow in scope,
addressing only military readiness activities. It does not affect the wide range of Defense Department activities that do not relate to
combat, such as wastewater treatment or routine transportation activities.
In fact, the sustainable readiness initiative contains several proposals that I believe will enhance environmental protection by
protecting additional habitat around existing bases, a component of the bill which I believe would constitute a win-win situation
both for the natural environment and military readiness. By encouraging creation of buffer zones for our bases, the initiative will
create new protection for wildlife and natural resources, while simultaneously protecting our bases from encroachment by
inconsistent development, which can sometimes lead to conflicts between military activities and conservation initiatives.
A NEW WAR, & NEW CHALLENGES
While I believe that the United States of America has a long way to go before winning the war on terrorism, we in the Congress
have taken several significant steps toward improving border and airport security. Several pieces of congressional legislation were
passed to allow for more air marshals, armed commercial pilots, better intelligence sharing mechanisms between agencies, and more
coordination for interagency security cooperation. I support these efforts, and will carefully consider other proposed improvements
as well.
Incredibly, the average age of most military aircraft is from 15 to 22 years, making some of our fighter planes older than the pilots
who fly them. While our conventional force needs are great, the delivery system of choice for weapons of mass destruction under
development by the world's madmen and despots remains the missile. I believe we must move forward to test, build, and deploy an
effective missile defense system, as well as other unmanned and space based defensive systems, to protect our troops and citizens
from this very real threat.
I believe that, ultimately, the leadership of President Bush and the determination of the American people will result in the needed
investments in technology, people, and weapons systems to combat, deter, and respond to future acts of brutality and terror by our
enemies.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Military Defense & National Security
Military Weaponry & International Security
U.S. National Security Strategy
The Threat of Radical Islam
Policy Issues Relating to Energy, Environment,
& Natural Resources
Thomas G. Tancredo is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Sixth Congressional District
of Colorado.
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