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View from QCA: Defense cuts risk nation's security, RIA
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It is important for members of Congress to know that they are risking our national security by failing to address, in a timely manner, the fiscal needs of our defense forces. Recently, the Army's Chief of Staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, spoke at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA) January Institute of Land Warfare breakfast in Washington, DC, and his message was quite clear -- our national security is at risk because of the fiscal uncertainty that we face today. The numbers are sobering -- a $6 billion shortfall for FY13 in Army operation and maintenance accounts because Congress has failed to pass appropriations legislation and the Army must spend at the Fiscal Year 2012 budget levels. If sequestration triggers on March 1, another $6 billion shortfall will occur. Combined with other underfunding, the total shortfall for FY13 could be $17 billion -- in wartime! Gen. Odierno outlined the steps the Army is taking to remain effective while dealing with the lack of funding -- cancelling combat training center rotations, delaying depot work, cancelation of maintenance for vehicles that are not bound immediately for the current fight, freezing civilian hiring, potential furloughing of existing employees and laying off temporary workers. The bottom line is that training and therefore readiness will suffer. He described Army end strength reductions to 490,000 that will occur regardless and said that if sequestration triggers, the number of troops could further dip. Gen. Odierno stressed that what the Army needs most is some budget predictability through several years so that end strength and modernization and readiness can be carefully balanced and a hollow force avoided. AUSA has been urging Congress to solve the sequestration puzzle quickly and we continue to highlight the significant dangers posed by sequestration and the repeated use of continuing resolutions to fund the Department of Defense. Unfortunately the military-related headlines in major newspapers today focus on side issues that serve only to take the eyes of the American people off of the key issue -- the fiscal process must be put back in order so that our defense forces can maintain their readiness and their ability to defend this nation. Kerry Skinner is president of the Rock Island Arsenal Chapter of the Association of the United States Army; info@ria-ausa.org. 
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Today is Thursday, May 23, the 143rd day of 2013. There are 222 days left in the year.
1863 — 150 years ago: Messrs. J. and M. Rosenfield have moved their leather and hidestore to the building formerly occupied by Temple Bufords's store. They buy and sellhides, pelts, furs, wool, beeswax, lard, tallow, etc.
1888 -- 125 years ago: The Rock Island Lumber Company has recovered 5,000 of the8,000 logs that were carried away by the Mississippi River flood last week.
1913 -- 100 years ago: John J. Ullemeyer has been awarded the contract to furnish RockIsland fire and police department members with uniforms, at the city's expense.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Work on Aledo's new $38,000 swimming pool was started thismorning at South Park when ground for the pool was broken by Mayor John W. Murphy.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Students and teacher at Moline High School called today "MissLeona Day" day at the school in honor of the government teacher who retires at theend of the school term. Although she's been teaching for 43 years at the school, Miss Dayfound a new way of arriving at the school this morning. At 7:30 a.m., a police squad carpulled up in front of Miss Day's home and escorted her to school. A caravan of students' cars joined the procession along the way.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Barbecue cooking and riverfront antics are planned for Discover the
River Day Saturday in Leach Park, Bettendorf. A 5K run, wind surfing, a canoe race, hogcalling and more will round out the day under the Interstate 74 bridge.
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