Letter to the Editor: Pentagon Spending Must Be Cut

Jan 27, 2011

Mary Ellen Hotchkiss wrote this letter to the editor in the Beaverton Valley Times of January 27, 2011.

The most wasteful area in our federal spending which must be on the table during negotiations is military spending. The wastage of young American lives and resources has resulted in our massive national debt, spoiled environment overseas and fertile ground for growing terrorists.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who also is a former chairman of the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many members of Congress from both parties have said that cuts in Pentagon spending must be on the table to address the budget deficit.

Last year, Reps. Barney Frank and Ron Paul got the signatures of more than 50 members of Congress on a letter supporting cuts to Pentagon spending. Credible proposals have been put forward to cut up to $1 trillion in Pentagon spending over the next decade.

Our representative and senators must look seriously at these proposals.

MARY RYAN-HOTCHKISS

Cedar Hills