Wednesday Jan. 23, 2002; 11:02 p.m. EST

Jeffords: Terrorism War Doesn't Warrant Defense Increases

Sen. Jim Jeffords said Wednesday that he opposes increasing the defense budget to deal with the threat of global terrorism.

In a Vermont radio interview the ex-Republican first explained that he opposed further tax cuts scheduled under the Bush economic program, then he told WVMT's "Charlie and Ernie in the Morning," "I'm also not enthusiastic about the huge increases that are desired for defense either."

The political switch-hitter contended that the global terrorist threat has greatly diminished since 9/11, obviating the need to boost the military budget.

"The situation we're in can well be handled within the existing budget," Jeffords said. "Afghanistan right now is not in any kind of condition - the Taliban has been really dismembered. So the threat over there is not that great and we have more than sufficient personnel and equipment and all to handle any of the world's situations that are likely to evolve."

Jeffords also took some heat from the Vermont radio duo for canceling his regular monthly appearances on their show after he switched parties last spring.

"We hadn't had, really, the way to do it since being moved out of our Hart (Senate Office) Building," the Vermont Independent first claimed, invoking October's anthrax attacks.

But when the WVMT hosts pointed out that he'd had been AWOL on Vermont radio for months before the Hart Building was shut down - Jeffords replied, "Well, um, we're going to correct it."

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2002/1/23/220418

To think this Pinko used to be a Republican!  Gag....

Archibal

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