Political Quotes

“I am continually asked why I believe we need to increase our financial support for our national security. My credentials as a fiscal hawk could be perceived as contrary to my concerns on insufficient national security funding. I realize that our Federal Government has a variety of choices to either increase or diminish specific programs that, in the entirety, make a more efficient and effective government. However, when it comes to our national security, our choices are quickly limited. It is painfully obvious that our Nation's military is at a crossroads. We can choose to retreat from the world and allow other nations to dictate the circumstances of our fiscal health, or we can choose to lead from the front and shape the affairs of our national security. I choose the latter. I choose a military that can provide for our domestic security and is capable of protecting our national interests abroad. Our force structure is rapidly diminishing. The capability and capacity that were provided during the Reagan military buildup era are quickly coming to an end. We have 11 aircraft carriers but are currently on track to reduce to 9 aircraft carriers in the next 30 years. Our attack submarine force structure will be reduced by 20 percent in the next 10 years. Our Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready force in its history. The axiom of ``quantity has a quality all of its own'' will be sorely tested. Distressingly, our military readiness continues to atrophy.…”