Romney to VFW: Defense cuts would be devastating

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

(CBS News) On the heels of President Obama's speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Mitt Romney will address the group Tuesday in Reno, Nev., and call for a thorough investigation into Obama administration leaks of national security information as well as criticize upcoming defense cuts .

"Today, we are just months away from an arbitrary, across-the-board budget reduction that would saddle the military with a trillion dollars in cuts, severely shrink our force structure, and impair our ability to meet and deter threats," Romney will say, according to prepared remarks released by his campaign.

"Don't bother trying to find a serious military rationale behind any of this, unless that rationale is wishful thinking. Strategy is not driving President Obama's massive defense cuts. In fact, his own Secretary of Defense warned that these reductions would be 'devastating.' And he is right."

"That devastation starts at home. These cuts would only weaken an already stretched VA system and our solemn commitment that every veteran receives care second to none. I will not allow that to happen."

(Obama addresses the VFW convention on Tuesday.)

On Monday, President Obama said Congress needs to figure out how to avoid the "fiscal cliff" at the end of the year, when the Bush-era tax cuts will expire and spending cuts will be implemented. If Congress can't come up with a deal, military and other domestic programs face billions of dollars in cuts in 2013. Mr. Obama blames Republicans' insistence on extending all of the Bush tax cuts - as opposed to letting the tax cuts for the wealthy expire, as Democrats want - as putting the military in jeopardy.

"If the choice is between tax cuts that the wealthiest Americans don't need and funding our troops that they definitely need to keep our country strong, I will stand with our troops every single time."

"[P]eople in Congress ought to be able to come together and agree on a plan, a balanced approach that reduces the deficit and keeps our military strong," Mr. Obama added. "It should be done."

Romney will also use the opportunity about his foreign policy views - and criticize the president's - as he prepares for a six-day overseas trip.

He'll go after Mr. Obama's biggest foreign policy achievement, the killing of Osama bin Laden, by referencing an anecdote from New York Times reporter David Sanger's book, "Confront and Conceal: Obama's Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power." Sanger reported that Defense Secretary Bob Gates told members of Mr. Obama's team to "shut the f--- up" regarding leaks and what he considered bragging after the bin Laden raid, to prevent further backlash from Pakistanis, some of whom were upset at the U.S. effort.

"Lives of American servicemen were at stake. But astonishingly, the administration failed to change its ways. More top-secret operations were leaked, even some involving covert action in Iran," Romney will say.

He'll go on to call for a thorough investigation into administration leaks saying, "Whoever provided classified information to the media, seeking political advantage for the administration, must be exposed, dismissed, and punished. The time for stonewalling is over."

"And let me be clear: These events make the decision we face in November all the more important," he'll add.

"What kind of White House would reveal classified material for political gain? I'll tell you right now: Mine won't."

[calif7]

When did the VFW start inviting Vietnam War draft dodgers to speak?

[TimeToEvolve]

You wonder why America is involved in almost endless war with many, many made up threats. It's a scam and a racket. The right wing war profiteers who also own and run the media keep us in fear so that we will be good American sheeple. They can use our money to kill and maim and then reap all the billions and trillions in profits. It's so transparent a scheme and a conspiracy I can't believe we put up with it.

[vernique3]

War is part of the Economic system of the plutocrats who govern America. With an U.S. military expenditure of 711 billion dollar a year the military strategy must be to shoot money at our enemies. The next four highest countries spend a total of 241 billion combined. Voting to significantly decrease the military budget will allow us to rebuild our crumbing infrastructure or pay down our deficit. President Eisenhower,a Republican, warned the American people to control the military/industrial complex. Many corporations seek opportunities for growth through war or threat of war. The armament corporations support many organizations that advocate goals that allows growth of the military/industrial complex. The military budget is extremely bloated and people concerned about the fate of our Democracy should stand up for cuts in the military budget.

[TimeToEvolve]

Yes, RobMe, the new Republicon Chickenhawk. He and his sons will never have to face death in an invasion for the oil corporations.

However, I am sure his hawkish stance just got him more millions in donations from right wing war profiteering rich people.

[Lindag20]

Whatever happened to the deal that was made last summer? Don't the Republicans EVER keep their word? Also where does Romney think the MONEY to pay for his big plans is going to come from as he doesn't want to raise taxes. We don't need a bloated military industrial complex creating weapons that are obsolete before they're out of the trial stage. People are SICK of fighting useless no-win wars all over the globe with our soldiers.

[33maxwell]

Oh my goodness...

Does this man, Governor Romney have anything he is running ON?

Or is he just running against everything?

[stupa5]

Rummy where you get the $$$$ for defense dept?
Chuckle head!

[OldTimeTruth]

Where is the problem in all this. The house and senate. Where's the big problem, the GOP!!!! Not Obama. You really have to laugh at Mitt and his great leadership mind.

[TimeToEvolve]

So Mitt, make a choice, either cut the imperial military offense budget or raise taxes on the giant corporations and the Top 1%.

[occupy_cbs]

"I am an unapologetic believer in the greatness of this country. I am not ashamed of American power...the upcoming century must be an American century."



Of course the newest republican chickenhawk is romney, with all his Project for a New American Century bush NEOCON advisers, he's ready to add to the deficit for even larger military-industrial complex spending and more WARS for the defense contractors!

[occupy_cbs]

We certainly don't need more PNAC bush NEOCON wars or higher national security/defense spending that is driving these budget deficits!

[sjc_1]

Tax cuts and wars we could not pay for helped cause the debt and crash we have now. Mutt would add more to the debt and more wars, I don't think that will help at all.