American Legion Rips Latest Round of Defense Cuts

DENVER - Feb. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- The leader of 2.4 million member American Legion says a Pentagon budget proposal unveiled Monday by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel endangers America’s national security and that downsizing force structure and benefits will lead to an exodus of quality men and women from the Armed Forces.

“Secretary Hagel warned about a ‘hollowed force,’ and The American Legion is concerned that this budget is leading us rapidly in that direction,” National Commander Daniel Dellinger said. “Cutting forces to pre-World War II levels makes no sense in a world where countries such as North Korea, Iran and Pakistan could become viable nuclear threats to our very existence.  Moreover, we do not know the exact nature of future wars and conflicts. The American Legion believes that we must be prepared for any scenario.”

Dellinger called it “unconscionable” that the Pentagon is proposing that members of the military pay for part of their housing allowances out of their own pockets. “Whether it’s cutting commissary subsidies or increasing TRI-CARE deductibles and co-pays, these benefits are well deserved and available to anyone willing to serve.  Military life is much more challenging than private sector careers. The American Legion will continue to call for an end to sequestration and insufficient defense budgets.  Providing for the common defense of our nation is a responsibility required by the U.S. Constitution.”

American Legion officials said that although the organization strenuously opposes the current budget proposal, they appreciate the transparency shown by the secretary of defense and look forward to future discussions.

American Legion Department of Colorado comments on troop reduction

When Department of Colorado Commander Carol Kennedy read this press release, she wrote NO! NO! NO! Stop taking away from the military the very things they need to live. Many younger troops require LEAP and WIC, commodities to live from day to day NOW and the wealthy leaders of our country want to take more of their hard earned money and benefits away. Why are they balancing the budget on the back of active duty troops and our veterans? Not only is this wrong, it is unworthy and disrespectful of a country like the USA. We send billions of dollars to foreign countries to feed their poor and starving, yet we leave our own military troops all but poor and starving.

Look back into the history books and see were cutting troop numbers down got us?   Our active military and reserve units were bare bones when countries like Germany, Japan and Korea decided to go to war. And now, Terrorist has decided to jump into the fray.

We cut troop strength after World War I and World War II and then again after Vietnam and Desert Storm, all in the name of saving money. Saving money? Not hardly!

Our politicians are always reinventing the wheel by reducing our military, but they do it with the lives of our troops. Oh, that is right, the politicians don’t do the fighting and dying, they leave that up to someone else.

A strong military defense prevents incidents like this. With countries like Iran, and North Korea threats are there, and they are REAL!  WE MUST STOP these cut backs to the military.  SPEAK UP to those trying to make our country weak and unprepared for war and injustice. If you don't speak up NOW, you may one day be speaking a foreign language and YOUR country won't be YOURS anymore.

Do SOMETHING and do IT NOW!!! Contact your U S Senators and Congressman and SPEAK UP.

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For More Information Contact Darrell Myers, PR Chair at 303-366-5201 or email at observer@coloradolegion.org