Cheney Hits Gore on Defense

Aug. 30 -- Republican vice-presidential candidate Dick Cheney is continuing to attack the Clinton administration for “running down the military” and insists Al Gore won’t reverse the trend if he becomes commander in chief.

The former defense secretary today criticized the Clinton-Gore White House in harsh terms for presiding over an “overused and under-resourced” military.

Cheney described the Democrats’ record on defense as “Eight years of neglect and misplaced priorities. Eight years of multiplying missions and unclear goals.”

“Eight years is a long time,” he added. “And eight years is long enough.”

Responding to the vice president’s assertion that Bush is “trying to run down the military” and exaggerating readiness problems for political advantage. Cheney told the Southern Center for International Studies in Atlanta, “He has made a poor choice of words.”

“When you triple our commitments around the world, while at the same time taking the Army from 14 divisions down to 10,” he continued, “that, Mr. Gore, is ‘running down the military.’”

He and Texas Gov. George W. Bush have been escalating their campaign trail rhetoric over what they claim are serious deficiencies in military preparedness, arguing that the armed forces are plagued by equipment shortages and low morale. Cheney made clear, however, that their criticisms are not aimed at military personnel.

“To point out that our military has been overextended, taken for granted and neglected — that is no criticism of the military,” Cheney also said. “That is a criticism of a president and a vice president and the record they have built together.”

‘Help Is On the Way!’

Bush has pledged to boost defense spending, including a $1 billion increase in the military payroll, and review all overseas deployments, including peace keeping operations in the Balkans.