Government

Rumsfeld: Defense Cuts Put America at Risk for Another Attack

Rumsfeld: Defense Cuts Put America at Risk for Another Attack

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has been expressing some grave thoughts to deficit hawks willing to put the brunt of the nation’s much needed spending cuts on defense. In a recent interview with Human Events, Rumsfeld said:

“The Department of Defense is not what’s causing the debt and the deficit.  It’s the entitlement programs. If we make that mistake, we’re doomed to suffer another attack of some kind, and our intelligence will be less strong and less effective.’”

Rumsfeld’s remarks from the Human Events interview released Friday, echo his statements at the “9/11, A Decade Later: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges,” event Thursday night at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. Maureen Mackey of the Fiscal Times reports that at the event, which was co-sponsored by the Jewish Policy Center, Rumsfeld declared:

“’The people who are running around saying they want to cut the Pentagon [budget] don’t know what they’re talking about,’ Rumsfeld said.

‘The money isn’t there.’

Instead, it’s ‘entitlements,’ he said, that must be targeted for spending cuts in order to get this country’s fiscal house in order.”

Rumsfeld has pushed that spending on the military is low compared with historical averages, noting that military spending from Eisenhower through LBJ topped 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP), far less than today’s 4.7%. President Obama has already imposed $400 billion in military cuts, with another $800 billion to follow if congressional leaders do not agree on a debt-reduction deal.

Human Events’ Jason Mattera’s full interview with Donald Rumsfeld:

Comments (99)

1 2
  • Slowman101
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 2:11am

    Rumsfeld is basically right. I am no fan of his, but he has some good points. As I post this, it is 2:10 am here in Syracuse, New York. GOD BLESS our wonderful military and all thos who serve. Also God Blees the one that died on 9-11, and their families and friends.

    Report Post »  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 7:49am

      “The Department of Defense is not what’s causing the debt and the deficit. It’s the entitlement programs… <<<< You got that right , Don..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:33am

      just like world trade center 7 ?
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aL9wivUFGo

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • Sleazy Hippo
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 10:22am

      As a patriot, I believe in Fight As You Go! Put your taxes where your warfighters are.

      As long as we pay for the Military and for fighting wars without borrowing from China, I think we can increase spending as much as America is willing to pay for.

      If we had paid for the past 7 years by not cutting Taxes after the Iraq campaign, the debt would be $2 trillion less and we would be paying 16 cents, not 44 cents on a borrowed dollar.

      Report Post » Sleazy Hippo  
    • johnannegalt
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 11:56am

      God bless, and may those lost rest in peace. It’s truly a tragedy to be remembered, as well as the fact that in the ten years since, we have surrendered our nation.

      http://markamerica.com/2011/09/10/american-leadership-surrenders-how-we-lost-the-war/

      “After 9/11, we should have known that the war we faced was greater and wider than one group of thugs sheltering in a desert wasteland half a world away. Our leaders should have told us, and they should have prepared us for all the ugly truths about the nature of the war against us, and the philosophical base from which it was being waged. We should have learned it ourselves and demanded a thorough war, but now we arrive on the eve of that event’s tenth anniversary, and still we cower and huddle in fear at the credible threats looming over us. “

      Report Post » johnannegalt  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 5:52pm

      No he’s not. What puts us at risk is our arrogant progessive busybody asshats we send out to other nations to dictate to them their policies. Good lord people, if these people whom we despise here go to other countries do you think they become soft snuggly huggable teddy bears? No, they’re the same overbearing asshats that they are here. Wake up folks, we spend more on defense than most other major nations combined. It’s our politicians screwing us.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • MHP
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:46am

    You mean Obama going to hell.

    Rummy did good.
    He didn’t violate any of my rights, Obama has.

    Report Post » MHP  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:46am

    “The Department of Defense is not what’s causing the debt and the deficit.”
    That statement is actually numerically false. The Department of defense alone occupies ~60% of the federal budget, not including ad hoc allocations by Congress for, what are they calling them nowadays, oh yeah “Military Contingency Operations,” which are not cheap. I’m all for defense and weapons and all that awesome ****, but don’t lie and fabricate factually untrue statements to try to scare people into adopting your point of view.

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • Norm D. Plume
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:43am

    Worthless Blaze, censoring my link, which would have explained the parent’s comment.

    Report Post » Norm D. Plume  
  • Workforit
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:38am

    All I have to say is “he isn’t off base”… Have you looked at the Obama care package lately? That 2000 + page bill that is now law and really doesn’t kick in until 2012? Do yourself a favor and force your self to read it… If you still think Rumsfeld is full of it… You do the math and then get back to me…

    I’m no Rumsfeld fan either…

    NOBAMA 2012

    Report Post »  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:38am

    The CHARTER of These United States, CLEARLY spells out the EXACT ROLE our federal government is to play.

    THE GOVERNMENT EXISTS SOLELY TO PROTECT OUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS.

    CHIEF AMONG THESE IS THE RIGHT TO LIFE.

    THEY ARE TO PROTECT US.

    THEY ARE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS.

    Instead, THEY are taking away our rights!!!

    NOWHERE in The Constitution does it say the government is supposed to SUPPORT PEOPLE or PAY FOR roads and bridges to nowhere, or give you free money when you don’t have a job.

    When people came to this country, there WERE NO JOBS. There were no businesses. There was only LAND.
    You MADE YOUR OWN JOB.
    Now, government STOPS US from making jobs ! !

    MAN, have we ever screwed up ! ! !
    .
    .
    .

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • ConPast
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:22pm

      Have you ever really read the Constitution of the United States of America, or are you just quoting some other misinformed fabricator?

      Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:11am

    Might wanna check back into the Clinton Years…just a thought there honcho. Don’t act surprise either…you should be used to all ills being blamed upon someone else. Only thing is-this time-this entire attack rests fully upon Bill Clinton’s shoulders-along with Mogadishu-The Cole Bombing and embassy bombings.
    Our Responses were weak and equivalent to running to the teacher (UN) vs. standing up and kicking azz and taking names…now we have someone 10 times worse in office. After his apology tour…lord help us.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:10am

    The 9/11 attack was made possible by Bill Clinton with his political correct laws!

    Report Post »  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:42am

      Jamie Gorelick who was a 9/11 commission member should have been put in the hot seat to find out what she knew of Clinton’s refusal to grab bin_Laden.
      I watched the report of the 9/11 commission tonite on MSNBC (they are providing good coverage of 9/11 this whole weekend.) I’m taping ALL OF IT including from Fox News.
      They blasted the hell out of Clinton for not taking bin_Laden out.
      Thank God for President Bush and his efforts to keeep this country safe since 9/11/2001 If It were’nt for his leadership, Obama would never have gotten bin_Laden, which he didn’t anyways, our SEAL Teams did.. Obama wouldn’t even give the order for the raid, Pinetta @ CIA and Sec Def, did it all on their own, while Obama was on the golf course, and not doiing his job.

      Report Post » MHP  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:45am

      I got this from inside military sources of the bin_Laden raid.
      And they are in the know.

      Report Post » MHP  
    • EP46
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 6:39am

      @miles from nowhere…are you saying that Slick Willie did nothing when the U.S.S. Cole was destroyed by these Islamic terrorists ??? Are you questioning the ‘inaction’ of Bill when the first attack on the Trade Center took place ? Are you saying Sweet Bill should have said ‘Yes” when we had UBL in the cross hairs and he said ‘No’ ??? By golly, you just might be right !!!

      Report Post »  
    • Jamestownrd
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:18am

      And hellary clintons manuevers all well planned inadvance of 9/11 to not allow cia and fbi and port authority to kill muslims..own it negroe!

      Report Post » Jamestownrd  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:33pm

    Did Donald just figure this out???? We have been screaming this for months!! DUH!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • Libby Tarian
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:39pm

    Look, I could care less about another attack. The worst thing that I think has happened to us is that we got the Progressives that we voted in over the years, and they have entangled themselves in our society like a fast growing cancer.
    Our troops need to come home and guard Us. Not some hot, dusty, remote outpost in Crapstankastan. I do not feel safe at all with these troops half way around the world.
    How is sending hundreds of thousands of young men and women to live among people who hate us doing me any favors? I don’t get it. When we went to Iraq we got Saddam and then we should have come home, but NO, we have spent billions and trillions propping up this sick bunch of religious fanatics. Folks when are we going to stop this craziness, we have nukes to protect us and they do a great job when we use them. Blast them and it is over till they regroup. Take out the cells right here in this country and stop them in their tracks.
    We have another problem, we kill 1.2 million innocent USA citizens a year. Good doctors and nurses make millions killing our unwanted children. That is the equivalent to Four hundred 9/11 incidents in 1 year. Every year we should have a day of remembrance for the victims of abortions. The most unsafe place for a human to be today in the USA is in their mother’s womb. Wake up!

    Report Post » Libby Tarian  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:34pm

      Amen!

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Samantha3
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:07am

      Thank you for remembering the innocent victims of America’s shame.

      Report Post » Samantha3  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:49am

      So you want us to get attacked again. That’s just what you said.

      I know for a face Encinom wants another attack too.
      All commies do.

      Report Post » MHP  
    • Jamestownrd
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:23am

      I am so damm sick of hearing .. “lord bless us”..get off your lazy assand usethe blessings you were given!

      Report Post » Jamestownrd  
  • GMAN455
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:34pm

    to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of
    Pennsylvania and Michigan ‘s 700,000 hunters All of whom have now returned home.

    Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia and it literally
    Establishes the fact that the hunters of those four states alone
    Would comprise the largest army in the world.

    The point?

    America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower.
    Hunting — it’s not just a way to fill the freezer. It’s a matter of national security.

    That’s why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed.

    Food for thought when next we consider gun control.

    Report Post » GMAN455  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 2:31am

      From my cold dead fingers will they take mine.
      We got 500,000 hunters here and we can stop an invasion, swiftly.

      Report Post » MHP  
  • Crakaveli
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:33pm

    We’re spread very thin all over the world. Bring them home and that reduces defense spending but protects us a lot better against an attack on our own soil.

    Why listen to the Secretary of Defense during the worst attack on American soil? Plus, it wasn’t like the attack came out of nowhere to people in the government. They were naive but had been warned.

    Report Post » Crakaveli  
  • godhatesacoward
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:26pm

    PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY FROM OUR ENEMIES IS THE ONLY ROLE THE FEDS (govt) ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INVOLVED WITH. THEY ARE TO PROTECT US AS A WHOLE. IT IS UP TO US AS INDIVIDUALS TO PROTECT & GOVERN OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES!

    Report Post » godhatesacoward  
  • GMAN455
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:22pm

    Why the Japs didn’t invade the US mainland

    After the Japanese decimated our fleet in Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941,
    They could have sent their troop ships and carriers directly to California
    To finish what they started.
    The prediction from our Chief of Staff was we would not be able to stop a
    Massive invasion until they reached the Mississippi River .

    Remember, we had a 2 million man army and war ships……
    All fighting the Germans.

    So, why did they not invade?

    After the war, the remaining Japanese generals and admirals were asked that question.
    Their answer……
    They know that almost every home had guns and the Americans knew how to use them..

    The world’s largest army…. America ‘s hunters!
    I had never thought about this….

    A blogger added up the deer license sales in just a handful of states and
    Arrived at a striking conclusion:

    There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin ..
    Allow me to restate that number.
    Over the last several months, Wisconsin ‘s hunters became the eighth
    Largest army in the world.

    More men under arms than in Iran ..

    More than in France and Germany combined.

    These men deployed to the woods of a single American state to hunt
    With firearms, and no one was killed.

    That number pales in comparis

    Report Post » GMAN455  
    • mrbuff1959
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:54am

      Bravo, great post.

      Report Post » mrbuff1959  
    • taxedout
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 2:07pm

      Wow great point I looked up how many nationwide and got from nssf.org that there are 14.5 million. Not to mention those of us who don’t hunt but own firearms.

      Report Post » taxedout  
  • jeffyfreezone
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:19pm

    Love Rummy, his book was great. Because of him I found the book Horse Soldiers, EPIC hero stuff!

    Report Post »  
  • riseandshine
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:17pm

    PNACer

    Report Post » riseandshine  
  • tifosa
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:17pm

    Aaaah, Donald Rumsfeld, another of the Bush administration who cannot travel to other countries as he could be charged with war crimes.

    Report Post » tifosa  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:25pm

      Thankfully every one of Rummy’s “war crime” policies have been reversed by President Obama.

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • tifosa
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:29pm

      In THIS country ;^)

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:49pm

      When you think that making a facial expression with keystroke symbols
      equals making some intellectual point, you know you’re a brain-dead Lefty.
      I’ll type slowly so you can understand: ANY war crime of which Rummy is guilty, Obama is at least equally guilty. Obama has done nothing but escalate Bush-era foreign policy.

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • MHP
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 2:56am

      We got 500,000 hunters here that can stop you commies, and I mean swiftly.
      You’ll never take this country, I guarantee that.

      Report Post » MHP  
  • SHvnDave
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:13pm

    I believe that 25 -35% can be cut from Defense while making our (REAL) defense capabilities stronger. Now is the time to stop protecting fiefdoms and get down to business and really clean house. No longer can we afford to say No, No, No! don’t cut my program; we need to say, how can we improve the actual output of this function while cutting 25-35% of the cost.

    Keep the battle ready troops.

    Close ALL foreign bases worldwide.

    Fire enough people in the Pentagon to be able to hear echos in the building.

    examine and eliminate every cosy relationship between the pentagon and suppliers.

    Force the UN to step up and assume protection of the world.

    Report Post » SHvnDave  
    • KangarooJack
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:23pm

      Love your force the UN to step up and assume protection of the World sentence. Yep, just ‘love that’. So this month it’s Arab Fall…gonna join on in for them???? Gee, Arab Spring-now Arab Fall. Do you think they have a ‘Print Collection’ featured at Bed Bath & Beyond?????

      Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • BrayDeck
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:02pm

      “examine and eliminate every cosy relationship between the pentagon and suppliers.”

      YEAH! Raise the costs to run our military! That’s a brilliant idea! At the same time we should demonize the oil industry… wait…

      Report Post » BrayDeck  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:04pm

      “Close ALL foreign bases worldwide” Did you ever hear the old saying. Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. This is stupid Ron Paul talk.

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 12:44am

      Are U nuts??? The UN? We’ll protect ourselves, thank you! Do you want one-world gov? You’ll be a slave with NO individual rights! STUPID ass!

      Report Post »  
    • SHvnDave
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 10:17am

      Yes, I said let the UN protect the world. There is no reason on earth that you and I and all other Americans should pay over half of the costs of running the UN and then pick up 80-90% of the costs of maintaining world peace. It is time for Germany and Saudi Arabia and China to step up and pay their share. That, my friends would save USA billions and billions and would also reduce the amount of hate directed at the US.

      YES, we will protect ourselves, and yes we will contribute our fair share to protecting world peace, but our fair share should not be 90% of the costs. That puts the cost of the war in Lybia and elseware into every item we make – and makes the cost of Chinese and German and other products cost less than ours.

      Eliminate cosy relationships – I cannot actually believe that anyone on this forum really wants to spend money on Tanks that goes into a Congressman’s pockets rather than actually paying for tanks – is that what you really want @Braydeck?

      @Republicorp… Over the last several years we have closed bases in the states while expanding them overseas. The salaries paid to the soldiers and civilians to maintain the boneyard in Germany is millions of dollars into the surrounding towns while the community support from bases in the states has dried up. We have forces capable of responding anywhere in the world brom within the US. Lets close most if not all foreign bases and keep the money home.

      Yes I do ask WWRPD?

      Think for yourselves for on

      Report Post » SHvnDave  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:04pm

    Gutting our Defense Spending is equal = to paying your cable bill and NOT paying your rent.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • Cranky
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:57pm

    If the US somehow gives that thing living in OUR Whitehouse four more years… the country is finished.

    Report Post » Cranky  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:56pm

    Indeed, while reasonable cuts of useless fat and dead weight in ALL parts of the government can be done; the administration via the super committee for the debt, seeks to gut the armed forces to the point no one can challenge them when they go for the goal in one final all-or-nothing rush.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • conservative_teacher
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:50pm

    Horsehiit, Rumsfeld. It simply isn’t true.

    Report Post » conservative_teacher  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:56pm

      I’m left to wonder when people will wakeup and realize that whats happening in this country is being done on purpose, by the evil people who are in charge. They want us subjugated and they want this country destroyed.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • conservative_teacher
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:09pm

      Get us out of all the unconstitutional wars, bring every last troop home, and the defense budget can be cut while maintaining our current level of readiness…even increasing our level of readiness for that matter. Rumsfeld is a liar, always has been and always will be.

      Report Post » conservative_teacher  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:16pm

      I agree

      Report Post » riseandshine  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:30pm

      Don’t cry to us, TEACHER, cry to YOUR Commander-in-chief. These are YOUR unconstitutional wars now, not OURS.

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • BrayDeck
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:03pm

      There’s only one unconstitutional war, bub. That’s Libya. The other two were approved by Congress.

      Report Post » BrayDeck  
    • Norm D. Plume
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 1:52am

      Sir, might I suggest to you that you look at what ACTUALLY comprises a Declaration of War? It is a very specific thing, and we have NO Declaration of War in effect at this time, for ANY of our military adventures around the world.

      Congress’ weak-kneed, limp-wristed “authorization for use of force” is NOT, I repeat, NOT a formal Declaration of War.

      I seem to remember one congressman bringing forward a formal Declaration of War when the “use of force authorization” was being bandied about. He was dismissed as a crank and a kook. Wonder who that congressman was? None other than Ron Paul. That guy you guys like to claim is “isolationist”, etc., ACTUALLY TRIED TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS FOR A STATE OF WAR. Had he been successful, the Middle East would look a lot different today than it does.

      Report Post » Norm D. Plume  
    • Jamestownrd
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:35am

      We will get out of all unconstitutional wars whem we rid the world of an unconstitutional president

      Report Post » Jamestownrd  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:49pm

    Cut the Dept of Energy

    It does nothing

    Cut the Dept of Education

    It educates no one.

    Fire the Czars

    They are redundant

    Rummy’s still the man.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:00pm

      I agree ..stop the social engineering and do what the Constitiution provides for .. DEFENSE!

      Report Post »  
    • neverending
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:23pm

      Couldn’t agree with you more!

      Report Post »  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 10:28pm

      I agree…energy, education, czars….and plenty more.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on September 10, 2011 at 11:27pm

      Cut the DOE?

      Any reason why you wish to dismantle the entire American nuclear arsenal?

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 7:31am

      Scientist?? The DOE is not in charge of our nuclear arsenal. You must be a Man-Made Global Warming ,Taxpayer Funded, Junk Scientist.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 8:17am

      @13TH IMAM He was being facetious, sheesh !! he was saying the D.O.E is nothing but a nuclear waste land.. WOW !! Sharpen up, bro..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 10:03am

      Respectfully ,, you’re wrong. He/She /It did mean it.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 6:10pm

      13th Imam

      The DOE owns every nuclear device we have. They also fund all the research into keeping the stockpile active and in working condition. This is something that you could have found out if you had ran a simple search which makes me wonder why you didn’t.

      I await with baited breath your apology.

      Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on September 11, 2011 at 6:12pm

      one years food ration like glenn says

      Please see National Nuclear Security Administration

      Report Post »  
  • ShamanWorld
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:49pm

    Sounds like the same thing he was saying in the months before 9/11/01.

    Report Post » ShamanWorld  
  • randy
    Posted on September 10, 2011 at 9:45pm

    DEFENSE CUTS PUT AMERICA AT RISK FOR ANOTHER ATTACK

    Obamas plan

    Report Post » randy  
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