FYI posted February 21, 1995 by John Luddy
The Truth Is Out: The U.S. Military's Looming Readiness Crisis
(Archived document, may contain errors) February 21, 1995 THE TRUTH IS OUT: THE U.S. MILITARY'S LOOMING READINESS CRISIS John Luddy Policy Analyst The new majority in the 104th Congress was elected on a platform of smaller government, less spending, and a strong national defense. These ideals were embodied in the Contract With America, which explicitly calls for the…
FYI posted December 30, 1994 by John Luddy
More Non-Defense Spending in the Defense Budget
(Archived document, may contain errors) December 30,1994 MORE NON-DEFENSE SPENDING IN THE DEFENSE 13UDGET By John Luddy Policy Analyst Since its Reagan-era peak, funding for the military has fallen by 35 percent, from $390 billion in 1985 to $252 billion in 1995 (in constant 1995 dollars). I While some of this reduction was justified after the collapse of the Soviet…
FYI posted October 21, 1994 by John Luddy
What 'Restoring Democracy' in Haiti Is Costing the U.S. Military
(Archived document, may contain errors) October 21, 1994 WHAT ""RESTORING DEMOCRACY"" IN HAITI IS COSTING THE U.S. MILITARY John Luddy Policy Analyst Even before Saddam Hussein's recent belligerence in the Persian Gulf, Americans were skeptical of President Clinton's attempts to justify a United States occupation of Haiti. Indeed, as late as Sep- tember 25, just two weeks…
FYI posted March 30, 1994 by John Luddy
This Is Defense? Non-Defense Spending in the Defense Budget
(Archived document, may contain errors) March 30,1994 THIS IS DEFENSE? NON-DEFENSE SPENDING IN THE DEFENSE BUDGET By John Luddy Defense expenditures have fallen steadily since 1986. By 1999, if the "Non-Defense" Spending Is Increasing Rapidly Clinton defense budget for 1995-1999 Due to Congressional Mandates is adopted, America will be spending a little more than half…
Backgrounder posted March 9, 1994 by John Luddy
Charting a Course for the Navy in the 21st Century
Introduction
During the Cold War, the main purpose of the U.S. Navy was to
counter the Soviet Navy and to dominate the high seas. Today, of
course, the global threat once posed by the former Soviet Navy has
diminished. No other navy can challenge America's "blue water"
fleet. Instead, the main threat to U.S. national interests arises
from regional conflicts…
Backgrounder Update posted February 10, 1994 by John Luddy
A National Security Agenda for the New Secretary of Defense
(Archived document, may contain errors) 2/10/94 214 A NATIONAL SECURITY AGENDA FOR THE NEW SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (Updating Backgrounder 957, "Thumbs Down to the Bottom-Up Review," September 22, 1993) The uncontentious confirmation hearings and unanimous Senate approval of Secretary of Defense William Perry last week belie the challenges that face him as President…
Backgrounder Update posted February 10, 1994 by John Luddy
A National Security Agenda for the New Secretary of Defense
(Archived document, may contain errors) 2/10/94 214 A NATIONAL SECURITY AGENDA FOR THE NEW SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (Updating Backgrounder 957, "Thumbs Down to the Bottom-Up Review," September 22, 1993) The uncontentious confirmation hearings and unanimous Senate approval of Secretary of Defense William Perry last week belie the challenges that face him as President…
Backgrounder Update posted January 14, 1994 by John Luddy
Stop the Slide Toward A Hollow Military
(Archived document, may contain errors)
1/14/94 209
STOP THE SLIDE TOWARD A HOLLOW MILITARY
(Updating Backgrounder No. 957, "Thumbs Down to the Bottom-Up Review," September 22, 1993.) Secretary of Defense Les Aspin observed last May that "right now, we've got the best, most ready force in the world .... To keep it that way, we're going to have to do…
Backgrounder posted September 24, 1993 by Larence T. DiRita, Baker Spring, John Luddy
Thumbs Down to the Bottom-Up Review
The men and women who serve under the American flag will be
the best trained, best equipped, best prepared fighting force in
the world, so long as I am President.
President Bill Clinton
February 1993
Introduction
Reminding his audience of the President's pledge, Secretary of
Defense Les Aspin announced on September 1 the long-awaited and
much- delayed…
Executive Memorandum posted July 1, 1993 by John Luddy
The Military Gay Ban: Why Don't Ask, Don't Tell Don't Work
In the months of controversy since President Bill Clinton
pledged to end the military's ban against homosexuals, this
ill-considered idea has been widely rejected. It is clear that the
campaign to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces
is failing. Last week, following an exhaustive study, the Pentagon
once again concluded that "homosexuality is…
Backgrounder posted August 6, 1992 by John Luddy
Reshaping the Army Reserves After the Cold War
Introduction
America always has had difficulty preserving its military
strength after winning wars. Immediately after World War I, World
War II, and the Vietnam War, the United States quickly cut its
armed forces, in some cases drastically, and the result was to
leave America militarily unprepared for the next conflict. Now that
the U.S. has won the Cold War,…
Backgrounder Update posted July 8, 1992 by John Luddy
"Tailhook" Aftermath: Don't Feminize the Fleet
(Archived document, may contain errors) We Z tW9bundR&q 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. Washington, D.C 20I99 (202)546-"00 7/8/92 Nb., 184 11TAILHOOK11 AFTERMATH: DON'T FEMINIZE THE FLEET (Updating BackgrounderNo. 836,'Vomen in Combat: Why Rush to Judgment?" June 14,1991.) Asthe Navy, Congress, and the American people consider the now notorious "Tailhoole'…
Backgrounder Update posted July 8, 1992 by John Luddy
"Tailhook" Aftermath: Don't Feminize the Fleet
(Archived document, may contain errors) We Z tW9bundR&q 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. Washington, D.C 20I99 (202)546-"00 7/8/92 Nb., 184 11TAILHOOK11 AFTERMATH: DON'T FEMINIZE THE FLEET (Updating BackgrounderNo. 836,'Vomen in Combat: Why Rush to Judgment?" June 14,1991.) Asthe Navy, Congress, and the American people consider the now notorious "Tailhoole' sexual…