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Article: Flower power: cuts in military forces have left the United States dangerously unprepared for war.
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- December 23, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Cuts in military forces have left the United States dangerously unprepared for war.
SIX years ago half a million Americans were in the Persian Gulf theater, preparing to unleash Desert Storm. When the sword was finally drawn, Allied aircraft began pounding Iraqi forces, as one air commander noted, "like a tethered goat." And when land forces attacked, large portions of the Iraqi army were wiped out with only minimal Allied casualties in a ground war that lasted 100 hours. It was a devastating display of American power that demonstrated what a difference a decade-long commitment to excellence could make in a country's military prowess. But, as if a town cut the budget ...