Where I Stand—Mike O’Callaghan: More business as usual

Friday, July 27, 2001 | 4:42 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

PRESIDENT George W. Bush is facing some of the same problems with Congress that were a headache for President Bill Clinton. He is running into strong resistance to the suggestion of closing more unneeded military bases to save money for troops and weapons. During the past 13 years, 95 large military bases have been closed for a $14 billion savings.

Closing military bases makes pulling teeth from a shark seem like the play of children when dealing with Congress. Every base is located in the district of some member of that distinguished legislative body. This isn't a matter of partisan politics but rather one of grassroots politics and the economy back home where members must face the voters every two or six years. When it comes to political survival, seldom is a legislator found who is willing to seriously consider what is the best for national defense and the country if it threatens his or her chances of staying in Washington, D.C., for another term or more.

Probably best displaying the attitude of too many legislators was expressed by Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn., when told about the need for the closing of more unneeded bases. Simmons remarked, "I have only one base, and I do need it." That's right, Simmons said he, not the nation, needs that military base.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is calling for a military spending increase that has shaken the White House budget planners. The president's $1.35 trillion tax cut has already eaten up a big piece of that surplus, which was available at the beginning of this year. Over 90 million checks worth $300 and $600 are being mailed to us and along with a shrinking economy the spenders are forced to look at raiding Medicare and Social Security trust funds. This is before the even heavier impact the growing tax cuts will have beginning in 2004. During his campaign for the White House last year, the new president brought hope to the Pentagon that he would meet their needs. Last year I spent several days and weeks in the Pentagon and although the military men and women refused to talk partisan politics, it became obvious they believed the GOP candidate would be go od for our nation's security. Evidently, if the Florida vote is any indication, they also voted that way.

Last week two of Bush's past supporters, Robert Kagan and William Kristol, writing in the Weekly Standard magazine, ripped him for not following through on those promises. They began their article "No Defense" as follows: "Here's some unsolicited advice for two old friends, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz: Resign. Right now that may be the best service they could perform for their country, for it may be the only way to focus the attention of the American people -- and the Bush administration -- on the impending evisceration of the American military."

At the same time USA Today newspaper noted that the House of Representatives is on a spending spree in the political pork market. USA Today gave the following examples of three projects:

Every even year we hear that it will no longer be business as usual. The candidates for Congress and the White House promise they will strengthen our military and meet the domestic needs of Americans. It looks like we must again wait another two or four years to see even more promises broken or forgotten.