National Security Takes a Backseat Again

As if we actually needed more evidence that Obama is soft on terrorism, and doesn’t take the threat of attacks on this country seriously, there is now information coming to light that his pick to lead the U.S. Coast Guard wants to make major cuts to the agency's counterterrorism mission over the next five years.

An internal memo from Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Obama's nominee to become Coast Guard commandant, says that starting in 2012, he would slash funding for programs in the agency's homeland security plan, including patrols and training exercises.

The memo, marked "Sensitive - for internal Coast Guard use only," was obtained by the Associated Press.

According to Papp's memo, he would scale back the Coast Guard's counterterrorism priorities and said he wants to eliminate teams that are trained to respond to and prevent terror attacks. These teams also train other Coast Guard forces on counterterrorism operations.

Papp said the strike teams were created after Sept. 11 "to fill a perceived void in national counterterrorism response capability." He says in the memo that other federal agencies are better at this type of mission. Really? Which ones exactly?

He also calls for cuts to the Coast Guard's largest homeland security operation, which patrols critical infrastructure and other sensitive security structures on or near waterways. Moreover, he would decrease the number of specialized units stationed in key coastal areas where an attack could be devastating. Obama has already proposed closing five of the twelve specialized units in 2011.

Seems as though Obama has no problem trimming spending when it comes to the security of this nation, but then spends money like a drunken sailor on liberty when it comes to his social engineering projects, like the health care bill, which he’s STILL trying to get passed (guess focusing on job creation was very short lived and takes a back seat again, much like it has for Obama’s entire tenure).

If Congress wants to keep their jobs, they will kill the nomination of Papp, who obviously is kowtowing to Obama for the appointment. The security of this nation should be our number one concern. Call or write your representatives and insist they vote this appointment down. The Coast Guard has a long and proud tradition of protecting this country, especially during times of war. No matter what Obama thinks, we are indeed at war, and we need all the resources we have in the fight. The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus; Always Ready. Mr. Obama should take a course in Latin.