McCain: With focus on Middle East, readiness of Pacific forces suffering

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27630

Sen. John McCain said he has serious concerns about the current and planned U.S. military presence in the Pacific and said operations in Iraq and Afghanistan “may be mortgaging our future.”

The comments came as Adm. William J. Fallon, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command and Army Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, Commander of United States Forces Korea, testified before Congress on Tuesday to discuss their operational plans related to the 2006 defense budget.

McCain called the Middle East operations “legitimate demands” but said he worries that not enough attention is being paid to the military’s ability to react to China and North Korea, the next “challenges” the U.S. military will face.

The Arizona Republican criticized the military for not yet determining if Japan will allow a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the USS Kitty Hawk when it is decommissioned in 2008, and he said the total number of ships in the region has dropped too quickly in the last several years.

[Leilani]

1. He's right about the Pacific

The War in Iraq has severely damaged our readiness around the world.

China is using the money from HUGE trade imbalance & building a blue water Navy with amazing speed.

[Bluehammer]

4. Indeed

And now that the US's focus is on North Korea, China is increasing influence against Taiwan...

[atreides1]

2. Now He's Worried

McCain, as usual a day late and a dollar short.

[hatrack]

3. Uh, gee, John, ya think?

When did this brainstorm occur to you?

[whistle]

5. How can the U.S fight the entire world? Wouldn't that take ten...

...times the military effort we now are putting forward and gobble up the entire GDP of the U.S. for generations to come?

[TahitiNut]

10. Well, we SPEND more than the rest of the world combined.

Are you suggesting we're not getting the value for our money? :dunce:

[whistle]

14. That's what it costs to keep the barbarians from our gates....

....$419.5 billion. To mount a war of aggression for our Imperial ambitions, well Iraq with only 23million people and flat dessert has cost the U.S over $200 billion so far and the president is asking for $87 billion more for the next 6 months.

Iran is a country three times bigger than Iraq, so that would run proportionately $600 billion to wage a war of conquest followed by over $240 billion every 6 months and American casualties is excess of 400 to 500 per month. Our military force to wage a war with Iran would be at least triple what we had in Iraq requiring over 500,000 troops in combat.

Our military industrial complex would be stretched beyond capacity and we would need industrial countries around the world to be our suppliers. Resources would be exhausted very quickly. Throw in North Korea and one or two rogue nations and the U.S. would go the way of France or Italy in WWII, becoming a bankrupt and defeated has been and the balance of power would shift very quickly to a number of other regions of the country.

What a bleak prospect our megalomaniac president has laid before the nation!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. Don't forget Ireland! We must deal with the IRA!! Yikes.

[whistle]

17. Oh crap, that will cost us the entire British military, so add....

...at least 10% to all those numbers I outlined! You know, this is not the least bit funny!!! :nopity:

[u2spirit]

6. It's a good thing he jawboned major league baseball

on steroid abuse BEFORE he focused on this. What a joke he and this country have become!

[Tempest]

7. Where was McCain before the election?

Oh that's right, he had his nose planted firmly in Bush's ass.

To hell with McCain.

He's just angling for the 2008 nomination.

[Bluehammer]

13. haha

who isn't?

[whistle]

15. Actually McCain's nose was snuggled into the under part of...

...shrub's scrotum and it was his tongue that up reaming Dubya's anus! John McCain is such a party hack!

[Bluehammer]

19. Yes;

...which is why he's so good. A Senator's success is determined by the extent of his palate, my friend.

[w4rma]

8. McCain is slow on the uptake, although slightly faster than his Repug

friends.

[saskatoon]

9. McCain

Tell it like it is-Mccain is a horse's ass,Big Time

[teryang]

11. Janus faced McCain

McCain was a big supporter of going to war in Iraq which is hastening the bankruptcy of the government. We're 300 billion into the hole with no end in sight. Defense experts predicted that readiness would be adversely affected BEFORE THE IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION.

Keep digging John.

[Bluehammer]

12. Actually,

if there are any Bostonians present, McCain reminds me quite a bit of Romney. The stances of both are governed by their ambitions for higher levels of political influence - however, that description applies to many holders of senatorial and gubernatorial positions that come to mind...

[Bluehammer]

18. except that McCain-

-is really only inter-party...

[teryang]

21. Well you bought the spin

McCain does aspire to higher office. That's why he says one thing and does another, consistently.

[leesa]

20. Well, you supported this shit, you effin' traitor!

God, I despise McCain! What a phenomenal coward!

[DeepModem Mom]

22. kick