If you love Barney Frank

[ruggerson]

then this is what he really said re: defense spending.

"In a meeting with the editorial board of The Standard-Times, Rep. Frank, D-Mass., also called for a 25 percent cut in military spending, saying the Pentagon has to start choosing from its many weapons programs"
<snip>

"The military cuts also mean getting out of Iraq sooner, he said."

<snip>

"The people of Iraq want us out, and we want to stay over their objection," he said. "It's extraordinary." The Maliki government in Iraq "can't sell (the withdrawal deal with the U.S.) because it sounds like we're going to stay too long."

<snip>

"States have many infrastructure projects — bridges, highways, etc. — that have been shut down because of a cash-flow problems, he said. So it is not the case that a stimulus will take months or years to wait for design and approval, since projects are already in progress or ready to go."

<snip>

"Also, he said, "we'll increase the federal share of medical care so states won't have to lay off people."

So, basically he said that cutting pork in defense spending will cause us to get out of Iraq sooner and will free up funds for repairing our neglected infrastructure here at home.

Most Americans heartily agree with him.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081024/NEWS/810240332/-1/NEWS10

[sandnsea]

1. In the interest of accuracy

This is also in that article...

"I was teasing (U.S. Rep.) Jack Murtha (a key supporter of military budgets) and I said to him, 'For the first time, somebody else has got a bill that's almost as big as yours.' We don't need all these fancy new weapons. I think there needs to be additional review."

[ruggerson]

2. we are against additional review of pork barrel spending?

I think a huge majority of American want some of the money we've been wasting on Iraq and weaponry to come home and be used domestically.

[sandnsea]

4. If that's your case, make it

Don't pretend he said something different than what he said.

[ruggerson]

5. I quoted the man directly

and provided a link. It's very clear to me what he's saying. No one is "pretending" anything. If you disagree with him, by all means give us your rationale about more war and more money poured into Iraq.

[sandnsea]

6. You cherry-picked

I am disagreeing with YOU, not him. He did say the military should be cut, not just Iraq. You cherry-picked in your OP and it's wrong. Especially when you're doing it in response to a thread by another DUer.

[ruggerson]

7. uh huh

I made clear I was selecting quotes from the article, and I provided the full link.

Good to hear you agree with Barney.

[H2O Man]

3. Nominated. n/t

[iamthebandfanman]

8. just say NO to the military industrial complex

and say YES to bringing our soldiers home where they are needed.

[FarCenter]

9. Fiscal Year 2009 Department Of Defense Budget Released

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11663

(But the Fiscal Year DoD budget doesn't fund Iraq or Afghanistan operations -- I believe that those are funded by an additiona $100 billion or so annually in off-budget supplementary appropriations. Farcenter)


President George W. Bush today sent to Congress his Defense budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The budget provides $515.4 billion in discretionary authority for the Department of Defense (DoD), a $35.9 billion or 7.5 percent increase over the enacted level for Fiscal Year 2008.

The Fiscal Year 2009 budget reflects the President’s priorities and sustains his commitment to prevail in the Global War on Terror; increase ground combat capabilities; improve force readiness; develop the combat capabilities needed to meet future threats; and improve the quality of life for Service members and their families.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, “the President’s budget for FY 2009 provides the resources necessary to maintain an agile, highly trained, and lethal fighting force, increase Army and Marine Corps end strength, and sustain the United States’ technological advantage over current and potential enemies.” Specifically, the Department’s request:

- Maintains a highly trained fighting force of 2.2 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines;

- Recruits, trains and equips 65,000 additional active duty soldiers and 27,000 additional Marines over five years;

- Provides pay increases of 3.4 percent for military members, improves benefits for the all-volunteer force, and increases pay 2.9 percent for the civilian workforce;

- Provides world-class health care for 9.2 million eligible Service members, families, and retirees;

- Procures and maintains an arsenal of the world’s most advanced weapon systems;

- Improves warfighting capabilities and invests in science and technology to maintain U.S. advantage over the Nation’s enemies;

- Maintains 545,000 facilities at 5,300 sites in the U.S. and around the globe; and

- Maintains vital intelligence capabilities.

Key highlights are outlined in the attached document. The Fiscal Year 2009 budget is posted at www.budget.mil .

---

Also see additional information at the link at the top of the post. Note also that this was the budget request, not necessarily what was appropriated by Congress. But most likely they tinker at the margins.

[Forkboy]

10. But Barney is going to cost us the election!!111!11

;)