Nikola Drobac – 5/19/05

This page was last updated on May 22, 2005.

Votes [sic] should feel used; Nikola (Nick) Drobac; Beaver County Times; May 19, 2005.

This is the 17^th anti-Bush and/or anti-Republican rant by Mr. Drobac since July 1, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“One of the Republican campaign promises back in 2000 was to strengthen our military.

“The gung-ho George W. Bush and other Republican candidates complained that Clinton and the Democrats were dangerously downsizing the military.

“Those conservative Republicans who held themselves out to be God-fearing Christians were adamant in their belief that closing military bases caused our armed forces to be less effective and, as a consequence, made the American people more vulnerable to possible future foreign military aggression. Those Christian conservatives [sic] Republicans assured us that a vote for them meant a stronger military with no military base closings.”

[RWC] What does your religion have to do with this topic?

I don’t recall anyone promising “no military base closings,” but it’s possible. That said, I wonder why Mr. Drobac didn’t provide a quote as evidence.

I just looked at a Bush 2000 campaign brochure and it mentioned nothing about Democrats “dangerously downsizing the military” or “that closing military bases caused our armed forces to be less effective.”

Below is what the brochure said under the heading “A Dangerous World Requires A Strong Military.”

“George W. Bush believes America’s military is challenged by aging weapons and failed intelligence. He will strengthen our military and rebuild America’s stature in the world.

“He will increase military pay $1 billion to raise morale and get military families off food stamps. He will improve military housing and allowances.

“He’ll end shortfalls in training, spare parts, and equipment and modernize weapons and equipment.

“Bush will defend Americans and our allies against missiles and blackmail by deploying an anti-ballistic missile defense.

“He will rebuild our intelligence services.

“As President Bush will order an immediate review of overseas deployments: no U.S. troops should be in harm’s way unless America’s interests are at stake, no U.S. troops will ever serve under UN command.”

Another point to note is that the number of military bases is no indication of military strength. Indeed, too many small bases translate into military weakness because money that could be spent on combat personnel and equipment is spent on inefficient base operations. Lest we forget, a significant number of military personnel – both civilian and enlisted – are in administrative and clerical positions. While the functions these folks perform are important, duplicated effort diminishes military strength.

Another point is that the vast majority of positions lost in the base closing process is administrative/clerical and represent duplicated effort.

Finally, can you imagine the letter from Mr. Drobac we’d be reading if anyone proposed increasing troop strength and/or military bases?

“We have a Republican Congress and president. Today, the Republicans are downsizing the military by closing 180 military bases across the country. Of these, 33 are major bases, and two are in the Pittsburgh area.”

[RWC] As an alleged teacher, Mr. Drobac should know the difference between “downsizing” and closing bases. Mr. Drobac also neglected that some bases will get larger as equipment and personnel from closed bases are transferred.

The purpose of closing bases is to cut waste so tax dollars spent on national defense can be spent more effectively. Dollars we save on military administrative and clerical manpower can be spent on increasing combat personnel. Dollars saved by eliminating unnecessary facility maintenance can be spent on better equipment for our men and women in harm’s way.

I mean no offense to those in the military assigned to these bases, but I believe it’s a stretch to call “major” either of the Pittsburgh-area bases targeted for closure.

The 911^th Airlift Wing has only eight C-130s and isn’t a standalone facility. It relies on commercial airport (Pittsburgh International) runways and taxiways. According to the Air Force proposal, the planes and crews – along with a similar airlift wing from a West Virginia base – would be transferred to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina to form a larger, more efficient unit.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in Collier provides logistical support -- chiefly vehicle maintenance -- to active and reserve Army units in the middle Atlantic region. It includes a transportation office that arranges for travel for Army reservists to and from active duty, and for the shipping of soldiers’ household goods overseas. Closing it would eliminate 174 military and 136 civilian jobs, the Pentagon said.” According to the Army proposal, remaining personnel would be transferred to the US Army Reserve Center in Coraopolis.

Underscoring that “major” probably overstates these facilities, between both of them a total of about 632 civilian and military personnel would lose their jobs.

“Plus, Bush has not told us how closing these bases will strengthen or [sic] military capability.”

[RWC] Mr. Drobac allegedly teaches business education, and he can’t see how eliminating administrative waste will allow more resources to be directed to combat personnel and equipment?

“Do you ever get the feeling that you cannot believe a word that these so-called Christian conservative Republican leaders utter? Back in 2000, if you voted for the Republican candidate of your choice, do you now feel betrayed and used?

“I am wondering how the millions of Americans who voted for Bush and the Republicans feel now. Have these voters forgotten the Christian conservative Republican campaign promises? Do they feel used?”

[RWC] Mr. Drobac must really believe Christians, conservatives, and/or Republicans are incredibly stupid. He also appears hung up with the “Christian conservative Republican” moniker. I wonder if he knows you can be a Christian, conservative, or Republican without being all three.

“Will the voters remember today, or will the Republican candidates make them forget by talking up the abortion issue?”

[RWC] This is what we call projection. Mr. Drobac tries to project his behavior on his opponents.