Dallas, TX – As top military leaders voice their concerns that budget cuts and troop reductions have left us unprepared in the event of a crisis, National Center for Policy Analysis has launched the “Provide for the Common Defense Now!” petition. The petition urges Congress to use this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to build – not diminish – the capabilities of our fighting forces.
“We have degraded our venerable military deterrent capacity. At every time since World War I, when America reduced its military capabilities, enemies of a Machiavellian bent saw opportunity. And now is no different,” warns NCPA Executive Director Lt. Col. (Ret.) Allen West.
The petition focuses on building a strong, fiscally responsible military by:
*Building a military ready to deploy and capable of defending America against terrorists and adversarial governments.
*Reducing the growth of the Department of Defense bureaucracy and eliminate redundant military and civilian positions to create a more effective and agile fighting force.
*Transforming warfighting strategies so that military objectives are clearly defined and achievable, and rules of engagement do not create unnecessary risk for our men and women in combat zones.
*Reforming the military acquisition and research and development process to eliminate significant cost overruns and guarantee warfighters receive modern weapon systems on time and under budget.
*Compensating our men and women in the military at a pay rate above poverty level so service men and women do not have to be on federal government assistance.
“The recent apprehension of the Islamic terrorist aligned with ISIS in Brussels along with the proliferation of Islamic jihadism, Russian and Chinese military expansions, Iranian hegemonic designs in the Middle East, and North Korean ballistic missile testing reminds us of the global instability and insecurity we face,” added West. “It is hardly a time to have Senior U.S. Generals testifying that our forces may not be ready to respond. Nor is it the time to further weaken America’s defenses.”
