While North Korea has been kicking up the dust around its nuclear and long-range missile programs the Obama administration continues to push for a weakened Defense spending program that places our long-term security in significant jeopardy.
Although Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently admitted that North Koreas missiles are not currently a threat to the United States he has requested almost a billion dollars to further develop and maintain our missile defense system. This is great news but unfortunately this is not enough defense capability to maintain our national security against terrorism and other rogue nations.
Gates has called for phasing out or reduction of several high profile and war-proven defense programs including the vaunted C-17 Globemaster airlifter and the F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighter.
The Armys revolutionary Future Combat Systems program for modernizing the operational capability of todays infantry soldier is also on the chopping block.
The C-17 has been perhaps the US militarys biggest success story. It has the highest reliability and mission success rate in airlift history and is the only aircraft in the world capable of performing the full range of military and humanitarian airlift missions. Well over 4000 Texans are directly employed in support of the C-17 program and the economic benefit to our state is almost $750 million.
It is not just the US Navys storied Blue Angels flight demonstration team that rely on the F/A-18 Hornet for their world famous aerobatics shows; the warplane was designed to operate from aircraft carriers for both ground and aerial attack and as a fighter escort fleet defense and reconnaissance plane.
The Navy reports a shortage of nearly 200 tactical fighters like the F/A-18 yet the administration has allowed for procurement of only 15 of the needed aircraft. Not only are 90 Texas companies and 3400 Texas jobs are at risk so is the security of our entire navel fleet.
The Future Combat Systems program keeps the bills paid for 9300 Texans but Gates and Obama have announced plans to terminate all eight of the programs Manned Ground Vehicles. These vehicles have been specially designed to account for modern warfare and terrorist tactics and provide unprecedented protection from the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that have become the standard terrorist weapon.
Although just over 17000 direct and indirect Texas jobs and a $1.4 billion strike on our economy are at risk if the administration successfully pushes its defense reform" package on Congress the risk is really much much greater.
The Taliban resurgence in Pakistan Iran and North Korea testing missiles and developing nuclear technology all seem to be pretty solid indicators that dismantling the United States military is not the responsible course of action for this administration.
The Air Force leadership has vigorously questioned the rationale behind this decision. Every American should.
The C-17 has been perhaps the US militarys biggest success story. It has the highest reliability and mission success rate in airlift history and is the only aircraft in the world capable of performing the full range of military and humanitarian airlift missions. Well over 4000 Texans are directly employed in support of the C-17 program and the economic benefit to our state is almost $750 million.
It is not just the US Navys storied Blue Angels flight demonstration team that rely on the F/A-18 Hornet for their world famous aerobatics shows; the warplane was designed to operate from aircraft carriers for both ground and aerial attack and as a fighter escort fleet defense and reconnaissance plane.
The Navy reports a shortage of nearly 200 tactical fighters like the F/A-18 yet the administration has allowed for procurement of only 15 of the needed aircraft. Not only are 90 Texas companies and 3400 Texas jobs are at risk so is the security of our entire navel fleet.
The Future Combat Systems program keeps the bills paid for 9300 Texans but Gates and Obama have announced plans to terminate all eight of the programs Manned Ground Vehicles. These vehicles have been specially designed to account for modern warfare and terrorist tactics and provide unprecedented protection from the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that have become the standard terrorist weapon.
Although just over 17000 direct and indirect Texas jobs and a $1.4 billion strike on our economy are at risk if the administration successfully pushes its defense reform" package on Congress the risk is really much much greater.
The Taliban resurgence in Pakistan Iran and North Korea testing missiles and developing nuclear technology all seem to be pretty solid indicators that dismantling the United States military is not the responsible course of action for this administration.
The Air Force leadership has vigorously questioned the rationale behind this decision. Every American should.
