Clinton-Gore Record on Military Spending

I’ve read a lot lamenting the state of our military, particularly that defense spending has been inadequate during the administration of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. While it is true that the size of our military has shrunk and spending is down, little has been said about why.

In the late ‘80s the Soviet Union fell, the Eastern Bloc dissolved and the Cold War ended. We heard much about the “peace dividend” we would receive. That dividend has allowed us to significantly cut our defense spending. With those funds we balanced our budgets and have had the longest era of prosperity in our nation’s history.

Let’s not forget that from 1980 to 1988 we spent more money than we had in the previous 204 years of our history, most of it on defense spending. With that spending we won a “cold” war that many expected to turn nuclear--a fair return on our investment, many believe. Our needs are different now.

If our military funding is inadequate, let us not forget that the Republicans have controlled Congress for the last six years. Blame them for the low pay and outdated equipment. They hold the purse strings.

WILLIAM W. MORSE

Palm Springs

* The reason the Cole was in an unsafe port to refuel was due to the fact that the Clinton administration has been underfunding and over-tasking the military. This has created a shortage of ships in general and supply ships in particular, which eliminated underway replenishment as an option, forcing the Cole and other ships to utilize a port that otherwise would never have been considered.

NORMAN HEATH

Oxnard