Letter to the Editor, of the Monterey Herald

by michael.

Thomas Lee,

President Trump wants $716 billion for defense spending next year, a huge increase that ignores ever-increasing deficit borrowing. Since the US defense budget is already astronomical, why? Using fancy dance steps, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis now says that the US needs to shift gears to anticipate conflict with China and Russia.

But what ever happened to the War on Terror, used for the last 17 years to justify Pentagon spending, the “generational struggle”? A decade ago one general said it would last for 50 to 100 years.

Now China? The US spends roughly three times more for national defense. Secretary Mattis says that we have to be very wary of Chinese exercises in the South China Sea. But the South China Sea is right next to China. Are exercises there a big deal? Russia? The US spends about nine times more for national defense. Russia’s disputes are with countries that border it. There is no problem in the Western Hemisphere or in most of the world.

Veterans for Peace (Chapter 46) believes someone needs to restore our country to sanity. It’s time to spend less, not more, for the Pentagon. Congressman Jimmy Panetta, you’re our best hope right now.

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