Defense cuts

I listened to some of Obama's announcement on defense cuts today.. i don't have a problem with it, but i also am more ron paul in my military views. I don't think we should be the world policeman, nor have bases all over the world, nor take any military action without full congressional approval & financing. Jefferson did not want the govt to go to war without paying for it. It is irresponsible for the usa to engage in imperialistic ventures & charge it to their kids.

If we're providing 'protection' for the rest of the world, why not charge for the 'protection?'

In a rare case, i support what Obama is doing, here. He still has a bigger defense budget than Bush, he's just cutting back on the army. The navy & airforce are getting plenty. Considering current defense strategies, this makes sense. We do not need a large invasion force. It's still over 400k soldiers, so if we have to invade canada or iran we could still do it. But if we only need to bomb some country into oblivion, we can do that with the air force & navy. If we're planning a war with china, then we don't need a big army, anyway.

When will we end the meddling in the world? Why do we have to rattle our sabers at everyone & lead by intimidation? We are a free people, with our values in the constitution & the declaration of independence. What we currently do in the world does not reflect any of that. We do not have to retreat into isolationism, but surely there is a balance we can arrive at. We can be good world citizens without meddling in every corner of the earth.

It is time for people to see the unholy alliance between the military establishment, politicians, & business. It is time for us to insist on fiscally responsible spending on defense, & not be 'scared' into voting for military expansion. We need to cut the military budget even more, imo. I'm for a strong national defense, but we are attempting a world defense, & we cannot afford it.



Too much of our foreign policy is to promote business interests.. pre & post ww2, & even now. I do not think it is the responsibility of the american taxpayer to protect business ventures in risky regions. They can hire their own mercenaries, bribe the officials, or go elsewhere. We should be more ideological & less financial in our policies. We should encourage trade with other countries, promoting fair policies for all parties. We should not fund other nations. Why should a country founded on the principle of freedom support a totalitarian govt? This has been a ruse foisted upon us by the banks & big business to make sweet trade deals. The american taxpayer's interests are not to see Mubarek in power, oppressing the Egyptian people, nor propping up some latin american dictator so we can get cheap bananas.


We seem to get along ok with China & some other countries with ideological differences. We could also get along with Muslim states.. even the fanatical caliphate promoting states... if we didn't bomb them & take an adversarial stance at every opportunity. We have good trade relations with the saudis, for example.. but probably not as much if we started bombing them.


What's wrong with us being just another contributing member of the world of nations? Why do we have to be personally involved in everything everywhere? We have been used, & are being used to bring stability to regions where it is not naturally there. We are not allowing the people of a region to choose what govt they want..we are telling them what they will get.


If americans want to support freedom fighters, let them. But it should not be the place of our govt to pick winners & losers in other nations. Yes, at times the rulers will not be friendly, or there will be tension. How is that any different from now?


This is not an isolationist position, imo. We have been overly meddlesome, & need to cut back. We can have a say in world affairs, but i do not see justification for the american arrogance of dictating how things will be, based on some politician's (with a lobbyist whispering in his ear) opinion of what is best for the people in question.

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson

We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
Samuel Adams