Sequestration Has Arrived

Tonight at midnight, time has run out, Congress has run out of town, and the nation is facing Sequestration.

As promised the "do nothing" 112th Congress, with a carry over to the new 113th Congress allowed
the hard and bitter cuts to the budget take place.

These cuts will be felt far and wide, and if nothing is done quickly, for a very long time.

The drastic cuts of $85 billion to the budget with a very large amount $48 billion to the Department
of Defense, will cause serious and frightening consequences.

All of the service chiefs of staff and outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned many times
of the effects and creating a "hollow" military.

Already the Navy has cut back on planned maintenance of several major ships of the line, delayed
deployment of some ships, will cut back on training.

The Air Force has said they will cut back on training, delay purchases of equipment. The Army, Coast Guard and Marines Corps have all announced less training, less purchases of major equipment.

Plus all services have mentioned possible drastic cut backs in personnel.

Civilian jobs are also at risk, some employees being told they will be forced to take off one day
a week without pay; some through September. That means less time building our nations military
equipment.

How can this not effect our nation and our military. Our brave men and women of the Armed
Forces of the United States will be forced to do more with less and spend more time doing it.

If Congress does not correct this wrong very soon (and it is not yet too late) to fix the problem
how will we as a nation be properly armed and ready to defend our country.

It is well know that both Russia and China are rapidly building their armed forces, most notably
their naval and air forces.

We also have to consider North Korea, Iran, countries in Africa, the Middle East,  and
South America all looking to rattle their sabers and march their armies, anything to increase
their standing on the worlds stage.

Who will be brave and foolish enough to say, look America is getting weaker and their forces
are being stretched too thin. Now would be a good time to strike a little fear into what was once
the greatest and strongest nation in the world.

The new Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said that it will not be as bad as others have prophesied
that our military will remain the best and strongest. He suggests that after talking to all the service
chiefs that we will not lose a step, will not stumble.

Time will tell just how hard these budget cuts will affect America and every man woman and child
in our great nation. How long will we have to suffer what has been forced upon us, how deep
will we fall and how quickly?

Our country was just beginning to see the light at the end of the fiscal tunnel, there was a small
turn-around starting and the economy was on the mend.

 It was slight and slowly growing, now will the entire house of cards come crashing down? Will
it throw us back into recession? Can it be another great depression? We can only hope not.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Will Russia Aim Its Missiles At US Missile Defense?

Russian President Medvedev has that Russia will move its missiles to border areas, and aim them
at US Missile Defense Sites if the US continues plans for a European missile shield.

Russia has always said that any missiles placed in Europe are considered a threat to Russia and its
nuclear forces. The US maintains that there are meant to deter a possible launch from Iran or other
nations in the region.

Russia has also said that it is possible New Start arms control will become void as Russia will
decide not to continue with the plans already agreed to.

Russia had originally agreed to consider the NATO proposal for the shields to be placed in
Poland and Romania, but talks have reached a stalemate on how the systems would operate.
Russia wants the system to be run jointly, but NATO has rejected that idea.

So as our Congress has failed to reach agreement on the budget, and the Department of Defense
will be facing huge budgetary cuts which could further weaken our military, Russia continues
to bluster and rattle sabers.

We should take the Russian statements at face value, and determine to forge ahead with the
missile shields to protect Europe and America. We can not back down from threats such as
this, I do not believe they are idle threats, and now the Russians want us to bow to their
wishes; something we must not, now or ever, do.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

DOD has once again raised opposition to the S.402 Cold War Service Medal in a reply to Senator
Carl Levin.
Here is a link to the letter from DOD
DOD Response

We must contact DOD to refute these claims. Many of our members of Congress have said that the
Cold War was a "WAR", even though at the time it was never a declared war.

Many more than the 380 Americans claimed by DOD died from hostile events. The true figures
will probably never be know, as many operations were top secret and details are still classified.

If it was not a war, then why were so many of our military spread around the world, many armed
with nuclear weapons; ready at all times should it happen that someone fired the first salvo.

The cost factor quoted would only be valid if all veterans and/or next of kin filed applications
immediately. This would not happen in the first year, it would probably be spread over 9 or 10
years. It would take time for the word of the medal being authorized to spread down to every
veteran.

It is a know fact that for the "certificate" only about 2.5 million applied during the first
10 years of its existence.

The duplication of awards does not hold water either. Consider the GWOT, GWOTE, NDSM
are or were awarded at the same time.

There are probably millions of veterans who served their tours without receiving an award of any
type. Those who were affected by the many "reduction in forces" did not even qualify for a
Good Conduct Medal.

The Cold War actually saved millions of lives around the world and provided at least a trillion
dollar peace dividend.

Act now, contact DOD, your elected officials and tell them that this medal is indeed one that
should be issued. It would not "cheapen" other awards. Yes there were some awards issued
during the Cold War, which did include Korea and Vietnam and other hot spots; but not
everyone was eligible.

And this year 2011 is the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold War and there would be no
more perfect time to finally recognize all those "Cold Warriors" who served and kept the
world free.

The Netherlands has bestowed a medal on their Cold War Veterans, the UK is considering a medal,
Canada is working on authorizing a medal. Louisiana and Alaska have seen fit to honor their Cold
War Veterans, and other states are also considering a medal.

It is time for our country to finally acknowledge, honor and thank all those who served in the
military during what is truly America's Longest War. 

Please use the links to the right to contact your elected officials using the POPVOX, which
goes directly to your officials desk. All you have to do is fill in the blanks, it is quick easy
and free.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"



---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sec. Defense says Taiwan could be less "Hot-button"

Taiwan Could be Less Hot-Button Issue in Future, Gates Says

By Jim Garamone 
American Forces Press Service
BEIJING, Jan. 11, 2011 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates believes that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan may evolve into a less hot-button issue in U.S.-China relations.

The secretary expressed his opinion about Taiwan during a roundtable discussion with reporters here today. 

The United States sold defensive weapons to Taiwan last year, and the People's Republic of China suspended all military-to-military contacts with America in response. Gates is here this week, in part, to re-start those contacts. 

Chinese officials, Gates said, didn't say directly that they would again suspend military-to-military contacts if the United States sold weapons to Taiwan again, but it was clear that they consider such sales against their core interests. 

Gates, who worked in the White House when President Richard M. Nixon made his historic trip to China in 1972, said he made the American policy clear to his Chinese counterparts. "First of all, we do have a One China Policy. We do consider the policy to be based on the three Joint Communiqués and –- I always add –- the Taiwan Relations Act," he said. 

The Three Communiqués were signed in 1972, 1979 and 1982. 

Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, and it is a law and not a policy, Gates said. The law requires the United States to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and "to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan." 

Gates stressed that the United States does not support independence for Taiwan. He said both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama "have been certainly cognizant of Chinese sensitivities and I believe the decisions that have been made have focused on defensive capabilities." 

Gates told Chinese leaders that the United States is not going to change its policies. 

"But over time, if the environment changed and if the relationship between China and Taiwan continued to improve, and the security environment for Taiwan changed, then perhaps that would create the conditions for re-examining all of this," the secretary said. "But that would be an evolutionary and long-term process, it seems to me. I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. 

"They made their point and I made mine," he said.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Secretary Gates says No to Israel

Speaking in Melbourne Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters that Israel had concerns about
the impact that international sanctions against Iran, and how effective they were.

This was a day after Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu told Vice President Joe Biden that only a credible threat would stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Gates said "We are prepared to do what is necessary but at this point we continue to believe that the
political-economic approach we are taking is in fact having an impact in Iran."

Gates is in Melbourne for security talks also signed a space defense surveillance agreement with Australia and promised the U.S. would work with Australia and enhance their military cooperation, including space and cyberspace.

On this issue Gates said "The Space Situational Awareness Partnership statement of principles signed
today, for example, will lead to great cooperation between our militaries  in the areas of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996