thedrifter
04-02-08, 03:39 PM
McCain Calls for U.S. Military Buildup, Says Draft Not Needed
Edwin Chen
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain said the U.S. must make building up the military ``an urgent priority'' because of the stress placed on the armed forces by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personnel shortages, while ``acute,'' can be achieved without reviving the draft, he said.
``We waited too long to begin that buildup,'' the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will say in an address in Pensacola, Florida, scheduled for this afternoon.
In excerpts released by his campaign, McCain noted that he long has advocated enlarging U.S. military forces.
``Had we begun to do it right after 9/11 -- as we realized that we were now in a global struggle against a malicious enemy, or as we embarked on two wars, or even when it became clear to many of us that our flawed strategy and inadequate troop levels in Iraq were going to result in that conflict lasting far longer than anticipated -- we would not be in the situation we are in now,'' he will say.
The excerpts don't give a specific goal for a military expansion or mention the potential price tag. He previously has advocated boosting the Army by 80,000 soldiers and the Marines by 20,000. There are about 1 million active and reserve soldiers now, according to Pentagon figures, and the Army currently has plans to expand by about 74,000 personnel by 2013 at a cost estimated at $70 billion.
McCain's remarks reinforce the Arizona senator's national security expertise -- what his campaign views as his strongest argument in a general election battle against either Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
``I'll match my credentials on national security certainly against Senator Obama and Senator Clinton any day of the week,'' he told reporters aboard his campaign plane earlier this week.
Military Background
McCain, a 1958 Naval Academy graduate, was a pilot during the Vietnam War and spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi after he was shot down during a bombing mission.
McCain also has been a vocal supporter of the Iraq War, though he has criticized the way President George W. Bush's administration managed the initial occupation.
``We must increase the size of our military, and much more so than we have done to date,'' McCain will say, according to the excerpts. ``It is an urgent priority.''
While reiterating his opposition to bringing back military conscription, McCain said strengthening U.S. armed forces ``is going to require greater numbers of Americans to serve than have recently showed a willingness to do.''
McCain's call on Americans to consider enlisting in the military dovetailed with his campaign theme today: public service and volunteering. He spoke about that earlier today at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
`Historic Importance'
``I want every American to know that, despite its attendant risks and sacrifices, military service even for one or two enlistments or for a career is one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever have,'' McCain said. ``Few other occupations so completely invest your life with personal and even historic importance.''
McCain also said Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs should be more freely allowed on the nation's college campuses, calling it ``disgraceful'' that some schools bar them.
`` The United States military defends the freedom of all of us, including students and professors at leading institutes of higher learning,'' McCain, 71, said. ``For some of those same institutions to refuse to allow future officers, who will one day risk their lives to protect us, to train for their responsibilities on their campuses is unfair, ungrateful and very poor citizenship.''
McCain was in Pensacola as a part of his weeklong ``Service to America'' tour designed to highlight his life and career in military and public service.
To contact the reporter on this story: Edwin Chen in Pensacola, Florida, at echen32@bloomberg.net .
Ellie
Edwin Chen
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- John McCain said the U.S. must make building up the military ``an urgent priority'' because of the stress placed on the armed forces by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personnel shortages, while ``acute,'' can be achieved without reviving the draft, he said.
``We waited too long to begin that buildup,'' the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will say in an address in Pensacola, Florida, scheduled for this afternoon.
In excerpts released by his campaign, McCain noted that he long has advocated enlarging U.S. military forces.
``Had we begun to do it right after 9/11 -- as we realized that we were now in a global struggle against a malicious enemy, or as we embarked on two wars, or even when it became clear to many of us that our flawed strategy and inadequate troop levels in Iraq were going to result in that conflict lasting far longer than anticipated -- we would not be in the situation we are in now,'' he will say.
The excerpts don't give a specific goal for a military expansion or mention the potential price tag. He previously has advocated boosting the Army by 80,000 soldiers and the Marines by 20,000. There are about 1 million active and reserve soldiers now, according to Pentagon figures, and the Army currently has plans to expand by about 74,000 personnel by 2013 at a cost estimated at $70 billion.
McCain's remarks reinforce the Arizona senator's national security expertise -- what his campaign views as his strongest argument in a general election battle against either Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
``I'll match my credentials on national security certainly against Senator Obama and Senator Clinton any day of the week,'' he told reporters aboard his campaign plane earlier this week.
Military Background
McCain, a 1958 Naval Academy graduate, was a pilot during the Vietnam War and spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi after he was shot down during a bombing mission.
McCain also has been a vocal supporter of the Iraq War, though he has criticized the way President George W. Bush's administration managed the initial occupation.
``We must increase the size of our military, and much more so than we have done to date,'' McCain will say, according to the excerpts. ``It is an urgent priority.''
While reiterating his opposition to bringing back military conscription, McCain said strengthening U.S. armed forces ``is going to require greater numbers of Americans to serve than have recently showed a willingness to do.''
McCain's call on Americans to consider enlisting in the military dovetailed with his campaign theme today: public service and volunteering. He spoke about that earlier today at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
`Historic Importance'
``I want every American to know that, despite its attendant risks and sacrifices, military service even for one or two enlistments or for a career is one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever have,'' McCain said. ``Few other occupations so completely invest your life with personal and even historic importance.''
McCain also said Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs should be more freely allowed on the nation's college campuses, calling it ``disgraceful'' that some schools bar them.
`` The United States military defends the freedom of all of us, including students and professors at leading institutes of higher learning,'' McCain, 71, said. ``For some of those same institutions to refuse to allow future officers, who will one day risk their lives to protect us, to train for their responsibilities on their campuses is unfair, ungrateful and very poor citizenship.''
McCain was in Pensacola as a part of his weeklong ``Service to America'' tour designed to highlight his life and career in military and public service.
To contact the reporter on this story: Edwin Chen in Pensacola, Florida, at echen32@bloomberg.net .
Ellie