THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
Having been in the military, I wish to comment on the article ``Can our military handle its mission?'' from your Feb. 2 Commentary section.
It is apparent that Michael O'Hanlon, studying at the Brookings Institution, is just another in the long line of scholars who read books and collect data to arrive at conclusions. He obviously has no respect for the military, as do Caspar Weinberger and Peter Schweizer.
Yes, the government was very fat during the 1980s. However, current military strengths are at dangerously low levels, and Mr. O'Hanlon suggests cutting another 10 percent. Due to these low levels now, there is no possible way to engage in a global two-front war. Military divisional strengths have been sliced in half since the Persian Gulf war, and for anyone to ascertain that we can do now what we did then is absolutely ludicrous.
Mr. O'Hanlon stated that military salaries have fallen slightly but still remain competitive with the private sector. Say what? The fact is the military pay scale remains approximately 20 percent behind the civilian sector for the same skill levels. It was addressed on the pro-side of the issue that 17,000 soldiers are on welfare. Isn't this beginning to sound like the former Soviet Union before its collapse?
CLAUDIA HILL
Virginia Beach, Feb. 3, 1997