Romney-Ryan & the Commander-in-Chief Test

CONTACT
David Solimini, dave@trumanproject.org
757-876-0295 or @CommsDirector

Truman National Security Project Communications Director David Solimini released the following statement on the announcement of Congressman Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s Vice Presidential candidate:

“Mitt Romney had the chance to show the American people he took national security seriously with his choice of Vice President.

Instead, he chose Paul Ryan, who has no national security experience. Worse, Ryan has shown, time and again that he is willing to cut essential national security priorities in order to protect tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. Last year, Paul Ryan has voted to cut the funding that keeps homeless veterans off the street, protects our ports, and ensures the security of nuclear material. His ideas this year are even worse.

Earlier this year, Paul Ryan accused America’s uniformed military leaders of lying to Congress.

From his disastrous foreign trip, where he insulted America’s greatest ally, to his recklessness on Iran, and his failure to articulate a national security strategy, people have a right to be worried about a Romney Presidency. So far, he has failed the Commander-in-Chief test. Today’s announcement cements that failure.”

 

Essential Reading for Ryan’s National Security Priorities

• The Hill: Ryan’s Budget Jeopardizes America’s National Security Oped by Michael Breen.
• US News: Ryan’s Budget Draws Dire for Foreign Affairs Cuts.
• Danger Room: Top Congressman: Generals are Lying to Me; I Just Can’t Prove it.
• National Journal: Ryan on Defense Budget: We Don’t Think the Generals Are Giving Their True Advice.
• CNN: Budget Cuts May Hit Homeless Vets.

 

House Republican Cuts to National Security Priorities

in 2/19 Continuing Resolution for FY2011. UPDATED 2/24

 National Security Council. Cut the President’s principle advisors on national security issues by $600,000. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

 Counterinsurgency funding. Cut USAID by $121m (9% cut), which will halt new civilian programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan that are necessary for the counterinsurgency strategy to work. These programs were called for by US military commanders. [Analysis of HR1].

 Iraq transition, Afghanistan/Pakistan operations. Cut State Department operations by $1.2b (12%), meaning the transition from military to civilian responsibility in Iraq, and State operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be put in jeopardy. [Analysis of HR1].

 Border Security. Cut funding for border fencing and border protection technology, as well as its related infrastructure, by $350m. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

 Democracy promotion. Cut the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which provides assistance to countries which meet government improvement goals, by $315m. Cut Development Assistance by $746m. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

 International First Responders. Cut, by $103m, the Civilian Stabilization Initiative, which trains civilians to reconstruct and stabilize war torn, disaster ridden, and unstable countries, to prevent future conflict. Cut International Disaster Assistance by $415m, and the Complex Crisis Fund by $50. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

 International conflict prevention. Eliminated all funding ($42.6m) for the US Institute for Peace, which prevents and resolves international conflict and stabilizes post-conflict states, including significant work in Iraq and Afghanistan. [Statement by Congressman Rogers on HR1]

 Starvation Prevention/Weak State Stabilization. Cut Food For Peace, which delivers bags of food stamped “USA” to the people of weak and failing states, by $687. Program details. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution].

 

Terrorism Prevention

 Transportation security. Cut transit security grants by more than 66 percent. In the last 7 years, there were over 1,300 terrorist attacks on trains, subways, and busses, killing or injuring over 18,000 people. [Analysis of HR1.] Also cut: Transportation Security Administration Threat Assessment funding by $9m. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

Port security & Container Screening. Cut port security grants by 66 percent. [Analysis of HR1.] Also cut $61m in international container inspections. Container shipping is the most likely way a weapon of mass destruction could be brought into the country. [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

 Nuclear Terrorism

 Domestic Nuclear Attack Prevention. Cut, by $31m, the office which detects attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or transport nuclear or radiological material for use against the Nation. [Analysis of HR1] [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution] [Program details]

Nuclear materials security. Cut nuclear non-proliferation funding by $97m. This will prevent the US from removing hundreds of pounds of highly enriched uranium, which terrorists could use to build nuclear devices, from unsecure facilities in several countries around the world. [Analysis of HR1]

Weapons of Mass Destruction Training. Cut, by 51 percent, funding for first responder weapons of mass destruction training, which means that more than 46,000 first responders will not being trained in FY 2011. [Analysis of HR1]

 Veterans Benefits

 Homeless veterans. Terminated the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, the aim of which is to end veteran homelessness in 5 years. There were more than 130,000 homeless veterans in 2009. The VASH program provided housing vouchers for them. [Analysis of HR1] [Local Story, CT]

Veterans long term care. Cut Long Term Care facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs by $15m. [Program info.] [Program cuts in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution]

The Truman National Security Project is a leadership institute promoting 21^st century national security policy.

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