"What I am about to tell you sounds crazy, but it's true," Gard says in the minute-long ads. "Your Congressman... is making it easier for terrorists to get nuclear weapons."
As part of their war on America, Republicans are cutting programs that protect Americans in so many ways. This one is national security regarding potential nuclear terrorism, but so many of their cuts attack our national security in terms of the economy, food, energy, jobs, manufactung base, etc.
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard is the star of a series of radio ads targeting Republican leaders in the House and Senate for supporting "deep cuts to the U.S. Government's signature nuclear security program to remove highly enriched uranium and other dangerous nuclear materials from countries in the former Soviet Union and other unstable regions around the world."
TPM: Retired General: Republicans Making Nuclear Terrorism More Likely (AUDIO)
General Gard on The Hill's Congress Blog on cuts to non-proliferation funding
Published originally in The Hill's Congress Blog on February 25, 2011
The House of Representatives has made brutal cuts to key national security programs designed to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. The cuts are outlined in a continuing resolution bill passed by the House on February 19 to fund the federal government from March 4 through the end of FY 2011 on 30 September.
The Continuing Resolution would cut more than $600 million from President Obama’s request of $2.7 billion to secure and safeguard nuclear weapons and materials across the globe. The programs funded by this request are part of a high priority effort to keep nuclear weapons and materials away from terrorists, and have long enjoyed bipartisan support. The proposed cuts deny the importance of these programs for national security.
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Dealing with the federal budget deficit is a national priority and critical to the future of the United States, but the cost of reducing the deficit should not leave American cities vulnerable to nuclear devastation. The House actions must be undone.
General Gard on The Hill's Congress Blog on cuts to non-proliferation funding
More on the radio ads from TPM:
Gard is a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars and a top official at Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a nonpartisan group (with center-left lean) focused on reducing the spread of nuclear weapons and other threats.
The Center and its sister group, the Council For A Livable World, say the House budget bill cuts $551 million from the White House's request for the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration. As a result, the groups say, the likelihood of a nuclear terrorist attack will go up. President Obama has requested $2.7 billion be sent to the NNSA in the 2011 budget.
Gard is lending his voice to a series of radio ads targeting top Republicans in their home districts over the cuts. In the House, the ads target Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), appropriations chair Hal Rogers (R-KY) and budget committee chair Paul Ryan (R-WI). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and appropriations committee ranking member Thad Cochran (R-MS) (who supported for the House budget bill when it came before the Senate) are also the target of the radio ads.
The message from the spots could not be more direct.
"What I am about to tell you sounds crazy, but it's true," Gard says in the minute-long ads. "Your Congressman... is making it easier for terrorists to get nuclear weapons."
TPM: Retired General: Republicans Making Nuclear Terrorism More Likely (AUDIO)
Audio of General Gard's Radio Ads
Radio Ad targeting Senator Mitch McConnell and Radio Ad targeting Speaker John Boehner are here: Take action against reckless cuts to non proliferation funding!
TPM has the audio of the radio ads in Boehner and Cantor's district here:
TPM: Retired General: Republicans Making Nuclear Terrorism More Likely (AUDIO)
More audio for other ads here
Take action against reckless cuts to non proliferation funding!
Republican leaders in the House and Senate have made deep, reckless cuts to a program that keeps nuclear weapons and dangerous materials out of the hands of terrorists. These draconian cuts must be restored because keeping dangerous materials and nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists is an urgent national security priority.
In an effort to urge members to restore these cuts, the Council for a Livable World has established targeted campaign, which can be heard below, in key Republican districts holding them responsible for voting to cut these important programs.
Over the last 24 months, these programs have made significant progress in securing nuclear weapons material worldwide. For example, in November 2010, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) secured enough highly enriched uranium and plutonium in Kazakhstan to make nearly 800 weapons. Non Proliferation programs keep our nation safe from the threat of nuclear terrorism and it is irresponsible to shortchange the budget for these programs.
Take action against reckless cuts to non proliferation funding!
The Republican war on America in favor of foreign and domestic wealth continues. General Gard is fighting back. Will you?
Take action against reckless cuts to non proliferation funding!