TPM: Blaming the wrong president for an overstretched military

[babylonsister]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/058524.php

Blaming the wrong president for an overstretched military
11.11.07 -- 5:38PM
By Steve Benen

Of all of Bush's misstatements from the 2000 presidential election, one of the most obviously-false attacks was on military readiness. Indeed, then-Gov. Bush blamed Clinton and Gore directly for "hollowing out" the military. "If called on by the commander-in-chief today, two entire divisions of the Army would have to report, 'Not ready for duty, sir.'" BC00 campaign aides later acknowledged it was a bogus charge, but that didn't stop Bush from repeating it. A lot.

And now, seven years later, the next batch of Republican presidential hopefuls are doing the same thing.

Here's the top story out of Iowa: Rudy Giuliani told an audience at Iowa State University that the American military needs to be bigger, and he lashed out at Bill Clinton for cutting the military during the 1990's.

"Our military is too small to deal with the Islamic terrorism threats," Giuliani said, "but it really is too small to deter would-be aggressors to even think of challenging us. And that's due to Bill Clinton."

Does this make any sense? What threats are we incapable of dealing with? And if they exist, why hasn't Bush/Cheney (and congressional Republicans) done anything about it? We already spend more on the military than most of the world put together -- who else does Giuliani want to invade? (Oh wait, don't answer that.)

Giuliani made a similar argument a couple of months ago, insisting that "the biggest mistake {Bill Clinton} ever made doesn't get the focus it deserves -- and that is gutting our military."

Fred Thompson has argued along the same lines, insisting that the U.S. must rebuild its military to fight global terrorism because leaders "took a holiday" in the 1990s.

Look, I realize the GOP is in a bind. Bush has stretched the military to the breaking point, and Republican presidential candidates want to emphasize rebuilding the Armed Forces as part of their platforms. But to acknowledge the incredible strains on the current military is to implicitly hold the president to account for his irresponsible policies.

What to do? Blame Clinton, of course.

Nonsensical rhetoric notwithstanding, Giuliani and Thompson have identified the correct problem, but they're blaming the wrong president.

Podhoretz really is giving Giuliani quite an education, isn't he?

[blm]

1. Why was Bush's machine more effective with that attack than Clinton's machine

then, considering that Bill was being attacked and he commanded the power of the presidency at the time AND the ability to counter the lie against him?

[pnwmom]

2. First they stole Florida. Next they stole Ohio.

And next . . . California?

there better be no next.

[AndyTiedye]

5. You Might as Well Ask Who Owns the News

Why was Bush's machine more effective with that attack than Clinton's machine

[blm]

11. Well, it's WORSE now than it was then, but Clintons convinced Dems only THEY

know how to beat the Bush machine because they've been beating them all this time - except the collapsed militray meme, the trashed White House lie, and the Democrats are weak on terror because Bill was asleep at the wheel memes went on from 2000-2006 without any strong defense of from the Clinton 'machine' who apparently hit the snooze button for 7yrs gearing up for their planned presidential campaign for Hillary2008.

What did they care that other Democrats and the Dem party were under constant attack from BushInc and his mediawhores throughout that time - they would rather be seen supporting Bush during his presidency than let the Democrats prevail in 2002 and 2004.


http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/19/clinton.iraq/

[babylonsister]

8. Clinton was also persona non grata at the time. The media were having

a field day with him which is one reason his actions in the wh hurt so much. I could care less if he got a blow job, but I either wish he hadn't lied about it, or wish he hadn't gotten caught. His actions definitely hurt, and still do.

[DCKit]

3. Blazing stupidity alone should disqualify that old drag queen. nt

[babylonsister]

4. I so agree; the man gets caught in a lie, changes his tune (so which

is the actual lie?) and people think he's presidential material? Why? What are their requirements-I guess they don't have any.

[simmonsj811]

6. But Bu$h has

Rebuild the military it's called Blackwater :think:

[Cha]

7. The Truth that counteracts this

lie, that the bushites keep spreading about our military with the vital assistance of the corporatemediawhores, should be repeated with MORE vigor than the LIE that preceded it.

[Booster]

9. If Repugs would sign up their children, our military would be

strong again.

[Historic NY]

10. Oh you mean this: reductions outlined by Mr. Cheney

Oh you mean this:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE5D6103FF933A15755C0A966958260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FA%2FAir%20Forces

The reductions outlined by Mr. Cheney go beyond those suggested to him by the military services but are consistent with plans developed by some of his senior civilian aides. The Army, for example, has suggested a reduction to 14 divisions from the current 18, yielding an Army of 580,000 men by the end of 1997. Mr. Cheney's study projects an Army of 12 divisions with 520,000 men. Lets get the facts correct.