Now is not the time to cut national defense

The American Legion's National Executive Committee unanimously passed Resolution No. 1 Wednesday afternoon, calling on Congress and the White House to halt efforts to reduce the national defense budget from its current level.

But before the resolution passed, an impassioned plea by Past National Commander and Past National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle was made in support of the resolution.

"Our men and women in the military are the best-equipped, the best-trained in the world," he said. "If our World War II generation was the best and the greatest generation, then the men and women of today - their grandsons and granddaughters - are in my opinion equal to that description.

"The American Legion has insisted ... that they have the best equipment, the best weapons, the best choppers, the best of everything. The best for the best."

Spanogle said when The American Legion was founded in 1919, it was done so with the assumption there wouldn't be any future world wars. "The American Legion, in (its founders') view, was an organization born to die," he said. "They could not comprehend another world war. They called it peace through preparedness. But we know the history."

Spanogle went on to list times in U.S. history when the country was ill-prepared for a war, such as World War II and following the Korean War. "We've seen what we have seen before," Spanogle said. "The war in Iraq is coming to a close. There's much talk about leaving Afghanistan. ‘Let's demobilize. Let's cut the DoD budget.' We have already cut the DOD budget, but congress wants to cut more.

"That means no research and development. No next generation of lift, close air support, IED protection vehicles and personal protection/body armor. This also includes means no upgrades to tanks, planes and drones. All the tools that we have given our fighting men and women that give them the edge in this War on Terror will be gone. By reducing the DoD budget, a massive reduction in force, less battalions, less air wings, less ships, less everything. All of this simultaneously taking place while were being told the world is a safer place. You and I don't think so. We know so. We have seen it up close. We are veterans."

Spanogle said now is not the time for a reduction in force; the resolution reinforces that sentiment, stating, "The American Legion encourages Congress and the Administration to cease all efforts to reduce the defense budget from its current level."

"If the federal government is looking to cut spending, they can start by eliminating the $16 muffins, the $76-per-person lunches and the $121 million that the Justice Department recently paid to conduct conferences at elite hotels," National Commander Fang Wong said. "America must never send our military in harm's way without giving our service people the resources that they need to succeed.

"I believe we should hold the line. If that's the line in the sand, so be it. Make it happen."

Wong said the sacrifices made by individuals serving in the military deserve an exception to the cost-cutting axe.

"Our government seems to forget that TRICARE and military retirement pay are benefits available only to those who have given decades of their lives in service to their country," Wong said. "Many who received these benefits have completed multiple tours in combat zones and all have indicated a willingness to die for their country if called upon ...

"Yet The New York Times recently called military retirement benefits ‘Another Big Social Welfare System.' Do you believe that? Well, I have news for The New York Times. These benefits are available to everyone. All you have to do is visit your local military recruiter, spend a few months being yelled at by some drill sergeants ... oh, by the way, possibly lose a few limbs or suffer traumatic brain injury, just so you can participate in our social welfare system."