Obama re-election solidifies military policies

Obama re-election solidifies military policies
By John T. Bennett
Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 6, 2012

President Obama held off a late-autumn charge by GOP challenger Mitt Romney to secure a second term, etching in stone his plans for a smaller military and policies such as lethal drone strikes against al-Qaida targets.

Though polls showed the incumbent’s lead in several key swing states and in Electoral College projections shrinking in the race’s final month, Obama wrapped up the 270 votes needed to win the Electoral College around 11:20 p.m. on Election Day.

The president leaned heavily on his foreign policy and national security credentials throughout his re-election bid, touting his decision to green-light the bold raid into Pakistan that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and what he says is the drone campaign’s weakening of al-Qaida.

And he did not run away from his plans to create a leaner, meaner military.

One of the campaign’s most memorable moments came during the third and final debate between Obama and Romney. When his opponent slammed Obama’s defense plans, the president shot back by lecturing his opponent on how technology has altered modern warfare.

“Our Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917. The Navy said they needed 313 ships to carry out their mission,” Romney said. “We’re now at under 285. We’re headed down to the low 200s if we go through a sequestration. That’s unacceptable to me.”

(Sequestration is the process under which the $500 billion cut would occur.)
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