Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in considering the military priorities of our country, we are addressing one of the most important challenges facing our Nation and its Government. That challenge is to transform America's military to meet the threats of this century the 21st century, and to do so in an environment of increasingly severe budgetary constraints. The spectrum of potential conflict in which America could find itself engaged over the coming years is practically limitless. From fighting major regional powers to pursuing shadowy bands of terrorists, the missions our military must be ready to perform are many, and they are varied. Unfortunately, the resources available to us in preparing to meet these challenges are not without limit. What was the largest surplus in the history of this Government just 2 short years ago has given way to the largest deficit in our Nation's history. And this has happened at a time when the demands on the Federal budget are growing and will continue to grow. Recent reports out of Iraq indicate that the task of post-war reconstruction will be neither easy nor cheap. Recent events in Saudi Arabia and Morocco indicate that the war on terrorism may still be in its infancy. There are also domestic priorities that demand attention.”