Blackburn Statement on President Obama's Flawed Defense Strategy

Statement

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) issued the following statement regarding the new defense strategy announced by President Obama today.

"In light of the current geopolitical environment, the plan announced by President Obama today for our nation's military is at best an ill-advised attempt to lower defense spending. The Obama defense strategy is a significant departure from past administrations that could cripple America's fighting forces and render aid to those who seek to do us harm. I'll be the first to say that we must do everything we can to get our fiscal house in order and that includes taking a fine-toothed comb to all federal agencies; but it should not be done at the expense of our men and women in uniform.

"While we do need to cut excess waste and rein in run-away bureaucracies, we have a sacred obligation to support those who serve to protect this country from harm. I have serious concerns that the President's plan will leave our Armed Forces unprepared to meet the future challenges we may face and that it may unfairly reduce the benefits of our veterans and their families who have served nobly over the last ten years in the Global War on Terror. There is a great difference between cutting what is expensive and unnecessary and boldly announcing strategic guidance that is just plain wrong. America's patriots deserve better from their Commander-in-Chief."

Source