CNN

Someone needs to get the military back up to it's former strength after Clinton took it apart.
Posted By KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT : November 30, 2007 10:47 pm

Tell me Keith, in all caps, which president just finished shutting down all military bases...holy crap it was your beloved warmongering draft dodger Bush! BTW Giuliani also dodged the draft in 1968 with a letter from a judge stating that he was a law clerk.
Newsflash...1968 it was not on the list of acceptable reason not to draw a draft number. Yet another dodger claiming to know what is best militarily.

Since I'm a history teacher as well, I'll point out this ignorant statement also.
"He justified his claim, explaining that a robust military was the primary reason behind the United States' success in the Cold War. Giuliani said U.S. and European demilitarization after the two World Wars was a mistake that contributed to the growth of Nazism and communism, and he also criticized the post-Cold War peace dividend as "way too big.""

First of all, mutual deterrance was the only reason the US never came to real blows with Russia in the cold war because everyone's finger was on the button, knowing that a push of the button would bring on nuclear war, and the end of the world. So spread that war mongering, expand the military garbage with your immigration cronies.. oh yea, 9/11.

SEcond.
"Giuliani said U.S. and European demilitarization after the two World Wars was a mistake that contributed to the growth of Nazism and communism"

This statement is laughable; he really needs a history lesson. How can we progress as a nation with uneducated morons repeating our mistakes from the past. also, i would like to hear how he could explain that demilitarization of the army AFTER THE DEFEAT OF NAZISM contributed to the GROWTH of NAZISM?! We just defeated the darn thing and all of a sudden we are contributing to it!? No RUDY, your militaristic, absolutism is what is making us weak. Communism grew because we allowed it to fester. I'm fairily certain we haven't seen nazis on a wide scale since we defeated the nazis though. increasing the military without even thinking of democracy is only wracheting up the pressure and tension.

oh great, Rudy sucked into the sabre rattling of the military-industrial complex. so now all you Rudy backers can see who pulls the strings on this puppet.

Moments like these make me wonder why none of the good candidates get chosen.

I am a U.S. citizen who has spent alot of time in Moscow over the past several years and I am frequently appalled by the resounding depth of my country's ignorance of both political and social life here in Russia. Even though Russia is not what the West wants it to be, namely a poor stepchild to us, the wannabe 'rulers of the world', the only thing that Russia really threatens as far as the U.S. is concerned is our absolute power. Considering the catastrophes wrought by the current administration, I see it as a positive when a force like Russia, like them or not, has the power and will to peaceably keep the dark (expansionist, military industrial complex) side of the American system in check. It pains me to say it, but in this sense, Putin, anti-democrat that he is, is doing more positive things for America than Bush has ever done.

Maybe you don't like Russia's government (though really, how is it that we're so concerned with Russian INTERNAL politics, when ours are so messed up, e.g. highly suspicious presidential elections; lobbyist influence through campaign contributions – really, do you suggest that American corruption is somehow 'better' than Russian corruption?). But Russia's attitude to EXTERNAL affairs seems quite sensible to me. Imagine if Russia infiltrated politics in Mexico and Canada and turned those countries against the U.S. You can bet the U.S. might take it a bit personally and make a very strong response.

The U.S. needs to get its own house in order before it can serve as any kind of model for the rest of the world. We need to return to our core American values, winning over people with our ideas and our character, not with brute force and threat. We are in a quagmire in Iraq, not because our military is too small, but because our civilian leadership is too ignorant. We need new ideas, someone like Obama or Edwards, or if you're a Republican someone like Huckabee or maybe we can get Bloomberg to run our country like a business, without the scary 'end of times' religious attitude, or maybe Gore will come save us all. At the very least we need a president who sincerely wants to create as much peace as possible in this world, not someone who is hell-bent on starting the next world war.

To quote Abe Lincoln:
"Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary... and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

Need I say more?

HE wants to borrow another 2 trillion from China to invade them

HEy! jewliani your the biggest nut case of all the candidates with Mccain bozo as your running mate America will be executed from within.

While kucinich and Ron Paul the only truely founding fathers material in the race get laughed at by Americans
Little do the Americans know that they are going to be told who is the next president the e machines will let Americans know who will be president and it wont be anything that is founding father material I assure you it will be evil and ready for another round of dismemberment of America.
Piece by piece they will rip America assunder and all because Americans are too dumb and too lard arse to riot like their forefathers
America the cesspool of freedom
E machines and judeges saying which one is president like in 2000 how is that democracy
it would be laughable if it were not so tragic

The man in drag is as dumb as it gets
no don't talk to the russians lets have another arms race what an imbecile

The tail wags the dog.

Giuliani uses this military build-up excuse to divert his personal extra-maritial expense issue hitting the news.

Giuliani builds his campaign on his new york mayor record. On 9/10, he was an unde-rachiever as a mayor, and be became a hero on 9/11. To many new yorkers, giuliani is no hero.

To people unknown to him, Giuliani may look good from a distance. But to people knowing him well, Giuliani disappoints them as husband, father, mayor or leader.

Walt in TX Said: "Since Clinton reduced the Federal government by 15 percent which reduced the military by 40 percent, while no one else was affected, this is a long time coming! Way to go, Rudy!!!!"

I love it when Republicans spout their brainwashed statistics. Frankly, although Clinton did reduce some D.O.D. spending–quality of life issues spending went up. The "Advanced Tactical Fighter" was finally funded...and truly most of the reductions in "military facilities (not personnel) was due to Graham/Rudman base closures–which we all know was created, sponsored, and passed by a Repuclican congress. In reality troop strenght remained static in all branches of the services–and the reductions were gained from improved efficiency in D.O.D. budgeting–thanks to Al Gore. Get the facts right.

What is peace? Really, everybody talks about defining the mission in Iraq, somebody please define "peace" to me. The absence of war? Kosovo, Bosnia, Haiti, Panama, Iran, Sierra Leonne, Rwanda, Mogadishu...all of this happened while we were at "peace", so I'm going to guess that that's not their definition. Low gas prices? Oh, and more US personel died in 1980 (when we were at "peace") than have died in any year since Afghanistan or Iraq started. And except for three years, the 90s tied the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In each year we lost about 1,500 military personnel. The three years we didn't it was 800, 900, and 1,250.

Also, about Russia enjoying watching and everything. So far, between the US and Russia, only one country's economy hasn't collapsed. That's right. Tuck your tail and go on back to the Kremlin like you did in 1990.

In the end, and not really trying to sound macho, but just letting you know, let Putin have his "justification" and let him hit us. He'll learn the same lesson we taught the Germans, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Koreans, the Vietnamese, and what the insurgents are learning.

That lesson is, when you fight me and my Marines, a lot of you die.

-"Iraq is loss. We should concentrate elsewhere, rebuild our forces, and prepare for the coming campagins"
– Osama bin Laden, 2005

1) He didn't say "arms build-up". He said a build-up in military size. Iraq has already shown that we DO NOT have the military size to fight an engagement.

2) The Democratic Congress has ALREADY voted to expand the authorized size of the army and Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is authorized its highest strength since WWII. The army is expanding by over 60,000 by 2011.

3) In the case that Russia does become belligerant, there will be no time to draft, train, equip, and assign forces. In both world wars it took us over a year to raise a military large enough to fight. But, back then we weren't Target #1, and we had two oceans surrounding us. Today, those oceans are A LOT smaller.

4) Whether Republican or Democrat, there's already going to be a lot of military spending to rebuild the forces from Iraq, and get enough recruits for the rotation.

5) We have the SMALLEST (except for Britain) conventional, developed military force in the world. We have BARELY 1 million army and Marines. Divide by 7 and that's how many combat soldiers and Marines we have. It would take AT LEAST 5 million just to secure California.

6) Russia declared itself an adversary in 2004 and again in 2006. We must take them seriously. China has been closing ports of call to US warships (these are regular port calls too).

7) He said nothing about "fighting" them. It's the same strategy Lincoln empolyed with the rebels. He is after all considered a "great" president. He raised 75,000 soldiers before he even took office as a reason for the South to negotiate instead of fight.

There is already more than a growing concern that Putin's party will use a landslide victory to change the constitution (if they receive 66% or more of the vote they will be able to do this) so that Putin could again run for president. Will they? Don't know. Would he? Don't know. But it's enough to warrant a close eye.

9) Most people are simpletons and view Iraq as purely a war for oil. That is how people are. Very few ever see what was actually happening until after it happened. It is stupid to think that in the middle of a war you think you know the causes, what's going on, and what's going to happen.

10) It doesn't matter who you vote for, this will happen. Your Democratic congress has already authorized it, Hillary has stopped her "everyone out by 2009" speeches, massive signing bonuses have been attatched to combat arms (infantry, cavalry, artilerry, armored). It doesn't take a genius to realize the the Pentagon (whom Bush and Rumsfeld ignored when they went to Iraq) see something and are trying to prepare (and this time they are listening, but the American people are not.)

11) It is always better to have the military and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

12) We always like to look to the Greek philosophers and talk about how smart they were. Let's look at what they told us.

"Provide in peace what is needed in war."

"Arms keep peace."

"Nobody enters into war uninformed, and those that think something can be gained from it will not be deterred by either caution or fear"

"Never trust an alliance with the powerful."

"The strong did what they could, and the weak suffered what they must."

"The few cannot contend with the many; the weak cannot contend with the strong."

13) A war has never started because a country was too strong. And strong or not, if any country thinks they will gain something by fighting us, there is no way to stop it.

14) If it does happen, we will probably only have time to react. Not time to build an army, train the army, equip the army, pay the army, and then react.

15) And finally, winning wars (and preventing them) is entirely about initiative. Gain the initiative, win the battle/war. Lose the initiative, lose the battle/war.

Giuliani and McCain are both correct in building up our ground forces. Both are wrong for seeing Iran as a threat to this country. With Chinese supplied missle technology Iran can hit Israel. Does anyone in this country believe Israel will allow Iran nuclear weapons? Sell them a few B2 bombers to allow them strategic superiority. The troop build up should allow quicker rotation and less time in country. If we increase strength enough we may consider saving the millions being killed in Africa (Sudan, Congo, Somalia). We save lives, we get friends for life, we destroy lives, Iraq war on the cheap, the world hates us. Rudy after getting in bed with Bush's oil people through his security firm has not said one word about Saudi terrorism since handing back the sheik his 100 million dollar check. He will never get my vote since oil interests have become more important than US security.

Yes, let's build up our military, rather than fixing the problems we have back home. How can anybody seriously consider this guy? Thanks for screwing over your children, generation spend-who-cares.

oh-my-god

Major shake-up in the GOP race tonight, as a just released Iowa poll gives Mike Huckabee his biggest lead over Mitt Romney of yet!

Yes…we need to ignore Russia and China….just because China is using all the money we send to them to either invest in their military….or buy American businesses – is no reason to be concerned…yes Democrats….we don't need a military….at all….what a smart bunch….
Posted By Chris, Middletown, CT : December 1, 2007 10:38 pm

I don't see many people calling for us to ignore Russia and China, and very few (if any) are advocating that we don't need any sort of military. Your straw man is just a little obvious, don't you think?

You bring up an interesting point, though. We're buying more and more stuff from China, sending them more and more of our money – which they then use to buy up the debt instruments needed to fund the GOP's reckless "borrow and spend" fiscal policy. How would going even deeper in debt to build up our military do anything at all to alleviate this problem? Regardless of the size of our "big stick", China won't attack us when they can just keep lending us the money that we spend on their stuff, eventually allowing them to buy us lock, stock and barrel. What are we going to do – threaten to bomb them if they stop selling Wal*Mart their cheap tat, or (even more ridiculously) if they decide not to buy our T-bills?

We have the world's strongest military force already, more than large enough to protect the physical security of our actual territory. It has become apparent, however, that it isn't sufficient to fulfill that mission, provide occupying forces in half the countries of the globe AND try to put down an insurgency in a medium-sized country all at the same time. That isn't a good argument for increasing the size of our military, though; rather, it is proof that we have a Cold War "persistence of vision" problem in which every challenge to any aspect of our alleged "superiority" is seen as an existential threat.

This is one of the most stupid things I've ever seen a candidate on either side do. Arms build-up WAS the Cold War and the reason that the Soviets were our opposition back then. If the USA got more weapons than the Soviets, the Soviets got more weapons to compensate. Then the USA got more weapons to assert superiority, etc until Gorbachev ended it. Neither side had planned global domination, only the protection of their own interests at home.

I sincerely hope that Rudy supporters read this and realize what he is. He is a war hawk and is entirely unfit to assume the single most powerful position in the world.

Rudy is right-on with his assesment of the Putin situation and how to "manage" it.

Just what the world needs–another Cold War started by Rambo Rudy!

kiddo
you cant even spell hussein right
and adding to the geopolitical nightmare in russia by making OUR military even bigger is sensationalist, rediculous, and cant POSSIBLY be a step toward peace, which leaves it as a step towards war.

I hope to see this end his campaign...he is a very scary, hateful little man who is trying to win by frightening americans...and he would run international relations like a prosecuting attorney, not the bridge builder the world needs.

If a country disarms itself, or fails to keep up, it doubles the armament of its enemies.

Standard maxim throughout all of history. It's too bad that too many in this topic are little more that a bunch of Neville Chamberlains waiving their precious paper treaties in the air.

Paper burns, people.

Yes...we need to ignore Russia and China....just because China is using all the money we send to them to either invest in their military....or buy American businesses – is no reason to be concerned...yes Democrats....we don't need a military....at all....what a smart bunch....

In an attempt to discredit the record of his abusive spending, Rudy recently accused his fellow Americans of staging a 'hit job' when they reported on his waste of taxpayer money – which was spent on luxurious travel accomodations, and other countless excesses. Now he wants to state an obvious military strategy, match or exceed the enemy, as a rallying point so you'll think he's some visionary or competant leader. The brilliant media minds have their work cut out for them if they are to make up for Giuliani's intellectual deficiencies.

This is so powerful! Giuliani, like Dubya, knows what time of day it is! It's all about defense! We're either pro-active military power brokers or sidelined spectators! Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela are not playing! We can't either! With a socialist-friendly Hillary Clinton in the White House, America's superpower status with a strong military becomes suspect, much like it was under her husband, Bill. If Bill had balanced our economy with our military we won't be facing as much opposition today from communists, terrorists and opportunists.

Giuliani...not even president and he's rattling the sabre towards Russia. Building up the military, necessarily or not, sends one clear message, "We're looking for a fight!"

Okay, as a die hard liberal I'm not planning on voting republican anyway, but at least Rudy seemed fairly moderate on several issues important to me. However, this comment freaks me out. I'd rather have an ultraconservative in the White House than a candidate who wants to restart the cold war. Imagine how bad Iraq would be if the Russians decided to covertly supply the insurgents. That's how cold wars are fought Rudy. Keep this psycho out of the White House.

Unbelievable! But hey, Rudy's got good ole Pat Robertson on his side! I can't understand how these buffoons became the faces of the Republican party. I pray a democrat wins. If not the middle class is doomed.

I would be scared to death at the thought of this unqualified Bush clone in control of our military and foreign policy. God help us if this self-centered egomaniac politician gets the GOP nomination and wins the election-it will be the downfall of this great country once and for all!

It seems that, psychologically, Giuliani is one of the guys like the kids in high school who walks around with a swagger and shoulders anyone out of his way.

There is an arrested adolescence to this man – a lust for confrontation – that is so utterly dangerous at this national and global moment.

God help us all if this man is elected.

Please do! Putin will watch and enjoy, because now Putin will have a legitimate target to point to telling everybody that HE, Putin, was right all along. And then later on you, people, in US will be very surprised(yet again) why yet another country doesn't want to deal with you.

Please, do!. Meanwhile Russia will sit and watch growing US national debt and falling dollar and together with Russia China and many others will watch and enjoy.

This man is scary. If elected, a Gulliani administraion,in comparison, will make Bush's administration appear as peace-makers. I'm from NYC and I would never vote for this power-hungry facist.

I think we should grow our Military by 30%, but we need to pay our soldiers better. That will provide better troop rotations and send a message to our Enemies. Strength is a mighty deterent and I pay taxes for three reasons. Strong Military, good roads, and the best education. I think it's time we step it up a notch, our enemies will bow their heads and know that this SuperPower is bigger and badder than ever. Ten years ago we barely had any soldiers and officers with combat experience. Now we're lined with experienced troops, and we have a 300,000 person Iraqi Army at our side. Stick with it folks, and respect our Military, it is the most powerful force in the world. Let them win.

Why wonder how we'll finance Armageddon, we’ll borrow the money from the Chinese and use it to fight everyone else. After all when the dust settles, there won’t be tomorrow. Considering that Rudy evaded the wars of his generation, he must seek to fight his from a secure bunker. Hail Caesar!

Military strength is actually an important element in negotiating with Russia and China. Even if a democrat is elected in 2008, they will still see this as an essential component of the overall 'negotiation mix' that is used by our govt. Interestingly, Kucinich would even have to accept the inevitability of dealing with Putin and China with the support of America's military component. You can't ignore it - you can down play it, but it is part of foreign policy. In reality no war will occur between the US, Russia, or China given the reality of today, nukes, economics, etc. What Giuliani said is refreshing, given Putin's sensitivity to military prowess. Bush thinks he can just take Putin to his families compound and he will be irrevocably charmed - that is shortsighted. Putin needs to feel threatened, otherwise he continues unabated.

Dear John from America,
Without a strong military you could be sucking something not of your own choosing. Its' pretty easy to tell someone who hasn't served his country, and I mean in a military uniform. Pretty obvious you've got a lot of similar company on this forum. Good luck to you all!

WHAT A WEAK BUNCH OF HOLIDAY FRUIT CAKES IN HERE. WHO DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR GRANDKIDS? ME? OMG!

Rudy, our all American 9/11 hero, is beginning to sound and look like a drugged out refuge from reality. He, Willard Mitt and Freddie will end up in the same home for lost politicians. What a group of trash they are. Make way for Obama!

The man is the least knowledgeable of the entrie cast of failure. But the dummies picked W, right? And trashed McCain to do it. So he has a good chance to win. Hope someone asks baldy whose taxes he will raise to pay for it? Answer will be to borrow more against the next few generations, same as we have now. Not enough guts to actually do the job, but maybe has the few it takes to start a war he will never fight in. Rudi – a vote for more of the same.

where are the Americans going to get the money from? Daaaaaaaa

Bill from Austin says;

The Lowest form of Stupidity is Weakness in the face of the enemy. It seems that the majority of the commentary here is exemplary of this stupidity. Authoritarian strongmen like Putin respect only strength.

Well Bill the only Authoritarian strongman I've seen lately has come the "Great Republic of Texas" as some of your fellow posters like to call their home.

Funny how those sucking off defense jobs always think more military hardware is a great idea! Well, put your pea brain in gear and think about diplomacy! China one of our former great authoritarian led enemy is not our number one trading partner would you like to provoke them also?

We are the greatest military power on the planet right now and you want to keep throwing money for new war gadgets?

When the military/industrial complex war mentality causes the next depression perhaps you'll take your head out of the sand and ask – how did we get here?

Placing a missile defense ring on Russia's border prods the Russian paranoid mentality after all they almost were extinguished as a nation in WW2. So we have a fatally flawed missile defense system being deployed even though it doesn't work and we get all excited about Putin.

All you defense contractors on here need to find a "productive job" and stop sucking off my tax dollars!

Manufacturing goods creates wealth not war disposables, you Rudy supporters need a lesson in economics!

The Lowest form of Stupidity is Weakness in the face of the enemy. It seems that the majority of the commentary here is exemplary of this stupidity. Authoritarian strongmen like Putin respect only strength.

Great idea, Rudy! That's just what we need, MORE military spending. When are you going to get it through your thick head that expanding the empire is what got us into trouble in the first place? Strong national defense is one thing, but an arms race is quite another. Perhaps if you also bring home all the troops stationed in foreign countries where they have no business or reason for being, it would make more sense to strength our national defense force, but there's no good reason for purposely antagonizing sovreign nations just because you don't like what they've done with their country! For heavens' sake, I'd be more worried about Venezuela cutting off our oil than Russia.

Great move. Now we've got something to continue spendng levels for D.O.D. after we pull out of Iraq. Instead of changing our economic dependence on being a military industrial state–we just sustain it by creating a new cold war. Way to go Rudy. Put us back 20 years. Sounds like he's got the same crappy neo-con advisor's Bush had.

Wake up Republicans. See this man for the right-wing nut-job extremist he is. This guy is not good for the United States.

A Cold War style arms race? I know Republicans love Reagan, but this is nuts! Why throw money at a solution for a problem solved 20 years ago?

LOL. Rudy should stick to local government. Now here's a guy whose lack of foreign policy experience can be dangerous to the future of this country, if he's ever elected President.

Be careful Rudy,,
With our manufacturing capability now being the property of the Chinese, how ya gonna wage war without their permission?
The lust for money has undermined America's ability to even make threats.
No one takes us seriously anymore,,especially when some little cave dweller in Afghanistan gives us the finger and our response is the "Patriot Act."

I'm surprised Numbnuts hasn't yet threatened Hugo Chavez...or maybe he just hasn't figured out how to appropriate the oil. He wants to attack everyone, it seems.

Military build up? Sounds like George Bush Junior – Rudy did you ever hear of diplomacy?

Russia still has over 10000 nukes and Rudy wants to start another cold war!

Sounds like the small mind of a corrupt big city mayor not a presidential contender!

Tsk, tsk. Are all the Republican candidates convinced that war is the answer to everything? They're all a bunch of warmongerrers if so.

Look at Bush's failed foreign policy in Iraq. Nowadays, all we do is lose good people in explosions. The shrub doesn't even care about them anymore. Just the war in general.

How do you propose doing that, Rudy, given all the troops and equipment, not to mention cost, involved in Iraq?

(Sigh...) All you Negative Nancys out there just don't get it, do you? Rudi wasn't addressing the threat of some hostile foreign power - he was proposing a responsible and workable health care program.

The U.S. military has fantastic health care benefits for all its members. Therefore, if every citizen of the U.S. were full-time military, all Americans would be automatically covered!

So stop seeing the glass as half empty, for cryin' out loud.

I think he is retarded just look at him I almost fill sorry for him. He has a huge head a speak impeadment and blinks his eyes and can barely complete a sentence. He probably rode the short bus too.

and people say they fear Hillary; look at this bozo, this man is CRAZY, these are the things that lead to Cold Wars and World Wars!!. how stupid and arrogant, it's disgusting.

CNN, make sure this message is posted, do not dare to omit it.

The progressive thing to do would be to abolish the military and surrender to Russia and China too..

What I like about Giuliani is that he tells you what he wants to do BEFORE he is elected, not AFTER.

It's fair if the voters know what they are voting for or against.

Giuliani is paranoid. American has already spent much much more in military spending than Russia.

On the other hand, Giuliani has earned millions in his personal security companies from government spendings.

Brad, from the great state of Texas

I beg to differ with your Cold War comment. Reagan didn't have as much to do with "the results" as much as Russia almost had a financial collapse keeping up with us in the arms race with a weak economy while being stuck in a quagmire in Afghanistan ...with our help. Remember? We were helping bin Laden prolong Russia's war.

History repeats itself but now it's America that finds itself in the same predicament. Stuck in two wars that are being prolonged by rich Saudis and other Middle East countries helping the Islamic militants while our debt increases exponentially.

But I do agree with you, we all want peace.

So pour more money into military and everything will be just fine? Let's make more tin soldiers. Sounds like something Hitler would say. Then again, Rudolph and Adolph roll off the tongue in a similar way...

Do not vote for this nutbag.

So Guiliani doesn't support the surge of troops in Iraq, but wants to build our miitary to take on the Kremlin and China? Isn't that a little contrary to him saying not to get involved in other countries problems, like Iraq?

I believe a militarily strong Russia and China is a good thing. They each have their sphere of hegemony and will serve as a counter balance to one another. Having one superpower in the world whether it be the USA or another nation leads to bullying and unchecked aggression. Look at what Bush has done in the Gulf. Rudy wants the big stick so he can be the world's bully, the man is dangerous.

First of all, I can't believe CNN actually posted that comment by Steve from CO– what a miserable jerk you must be Steve!

Secondly, just because Guliani wants to build up the military does not mean he plans on attacking Russia. Whether you like it or not, a strong military is the BEST diplomatic tool. We won the Cold War precisely for that reason–sure, it helped to talk to the Soviets once in a while, but without a strong backbone for backup, we would've gotten about as much respect as Papa Smurf. When Reagan was prez, he did precisely that, and the results speak for themselves.

Listen folks, we all want peace, but it won't happen just because we give someone a hug. I wouldn't walk into a gang-infested neighborhood without some protection, and I'm pretty sure you all wouldn't either!

sounds like a good idea – this newly enlarged military could take on new roles like chaffeuring the first mistresses.

Jimmy Breslin was right.

Giuliani is definitely a "small man in search of a balcony."

Giuliani will terrorize the whole world if given the opportunity. How can there be any peace process when we've got a bafoon like Giuliani shooting off his mouth. And to increase the size of our military can only mean a draft.

Guiliani and other Republicans will never get fair reporting on CNN. Never trust second hand sources of information. Listen to the candidates speak for themselves when their quotes can't be taken in context.

"The good part with Russia is we're not in a Cold War..."???
So why don't we just start it up again? Brilliant reasoning from someone who is supposed to be running for a conservative nomination. What does he think the Cold War was, us lobbing snowballs across the Bering Strait?? Lets spend billions developing and building bigger, badder weapons so they can sit in silos, just-in-case. Why not spend that money on a better solution. I don't know, maybe we should find a way to offer socialized healthcare for needy families instead of marching down Main Street with all of our munitions like North Korea. What's his next suggestion, power-for-life like Chavez?

It's useless to give comments to CNN politicalticker. They tend to censor whatever comments that they don't like.

If you see all these comments here, all that are posted are those who oppose Mr. Giuliani strategy. I am sure there must be those who agree with but yet not passed the censor.

So, whoever of the candidates that CNN like most, those will get the most positive coverage. Congratulations CNN.

How for God's sake is this guy a front runner?
How can we point to the short comings of 'russian democracy'?

Sorry to be frank and honest, but when is the last time we seriously took a look at our own 'democracy.'

We are OWNED, bought and paid for, by corporations. We are not soveriegn citizens but soc. sec. numbers. We really need to wake up and fix our own system. It is elementary school yard behavior when a kid with problems at home puts in on everyone else. Yet we can't see ourselves doing this as a country. And like someone above said, hmmm and they say Ron Paul is crazy?

Seems to me if we had any hope at all of saving anything at all for anyone at all, people would start considering Ron Paul real quick.

Even you web guys at cnn have to see and be aware of what is happening to this country.

Only him and Biden has even acknowledged that Putin and Hu Jintao (China) are a danger to America. I applaud both men for doing so. But I have a question how to do we pay for such an increase in military build up when are biggest banker is CHINA! In addition that the country is already paying for two wars, possiblly a third if we bomb Iran. The Europeans cant help us because Putin has them by the next with his gas reserves.

Gotta have build up before a pre-emptive strike! Figured you all would know that by now!

SIGHS!

WHERES OUR FREEDOM?

Oh Oh, he's going to invade Canada next. We don't have an army to speak of, so not much protection there. And... according to Rupert Murdoch we are America's RETARDED cousins to the north so we will be running around drooling all over the place, but being Canadians and all we will certainly throw roses and the war mongers will be welcomed with open arms. We would be the easiest to invade, and Rudy would have all of these natural resources and wide opens spaces with fresh water to plunder. Oh, and our tar sands I guess for the oil. Shhhhh, don't tell Bush there's oil up here. If you guys vote in another war-mongering president we are not going to play anymore. We'll take our oil, fresh air, fresh water and LOTS of land that hasn't been plundered and hide it before Bush and Rudy remember we're up here. NO MORE WAR MONGERING REPUBLICANs.

And they call Ron Paul nuts.... This guy would be wise to read some more instead of always looking for his next ex-wife.

Since Clinton reduced the Federal government by 15 percent which reduced the military by 40 percent, while no one else was affected, this is a long time coming! Way to go, Rudy!!!!

Dear Defen$e Contractor$,

HO, HO, HO, Merry Chri$tma$!

Love,

Rudy G.

P.$. – Wait till you $ee what I got you for next Chri$tma$ if you promi$e to be good boy$ ;~) until election.

OMG – The man is a freaking fruitcake!!

We would not be in this situation if Bush and his “Russian Expert” Condi Rice had done their job, but once again they failed America!

Rouge criminals, and that is all that these terror groups are will not destroy America, a country that has thousands of nukes and delivery vehicles that will hit our soil 20 minutes after launch is what we should fear.

Communist’s are like watermelons, once they turn red inside they stay red inside…………

Saying you are the best candidate to defend this country because you were there at 9/11 is like saying I am the best candidate to midwife a woman in labor because I was at my own child's birth. I can understand instances of illogical commentary, but some things in this world are flat out stupid. Guiliani's comments on national security and Russia are some of the most inane I have heard.

"The Good part is that we are not in a Cold War." Therefore, leave it up to Giuliani to start another one and an arms race. Yay! I's 1945-1990 all over again!

Giuliani is right the Soviets no longer has the imperial strong arm over eurasia it once had. But neither do we. Both of our Presidents have taken unprecedented executive powers and used them to sweep fear and mistrust among their citizens. If Putin is a tiger, then Bush is a bear. The missile defense shield being built by our military across eastern european countries like Poland are only increasing tensions with our former Cold War enemy. I truly believe both us and Russia are going to be the reason our world died in the 21st century. We have irresponsibly proliferated nuclear technology to our close allies, and not so close. This war-hawk Giuliani talks like somebody with absolutely no military experience, like Bush, and only serves to instigate the next nuclear holocaust

That's right Rudy, there is no longer a Soviet Union. Is this the kind of thinking this country needs?

If we don't have the troops to take care of Iraq and Afghanistan, where are we going to get the personnel and resources to restart the Cold War?

While it is amusing to hear the comical statements made by GOP candidates, as they do show how ignorant Republicans have become, the stakes are too high to simply brush these things off. The fate of this country, as a democracy is at risk in this election. This nation can not afford have Giuliani, Romney, or Huckabee as president. Don't screw this up America. Vote Obama.

Giuliani needs to study his history. We got into the cold war because we declared Russia potentially dangerous and decided we needed a stronger military than them, just to be safe.

They responded in kind, and the arms race, nuclear proliferation, and the cold war were the results.

The beginning of the end of the cold war was when both governments decided all this was nuts, and started signing treaties to reduce their military build-ups.

Message to Giuliani: you repeat your successes, not your mistakes.

So how are we going to pay for this Rudy? Oh, I know. We will give more tax breaks to the richest and they will expand thier businesses and tax revenues will skyrocket, right?
I can't believe the d students of the right still buy this 9th grade econ 101 crap. They will invest the money allright. They will invest it in third world countries and communist China and Vietnam. They will also be recruiting illegals to work in thier packing plants and poultry, milk, and construction operations as you bash illegals and spend the employers of those same illegals campaign contributions. The party of corruption and hypocrisy marches on.
Our grandchildren will once again be shouldered with the burdens of the borrow and spend Republicans.

Typical "Arms Race" mentality... What happens when we build up? They build up. What happens when they build up? We build up. It's a vicious cycle, and we've already been there and done that. Wouldn't it be a better plan to try and avoid another war, cold or otherwise?

What he means is that a War on Terror doesn't totally fit the bill of WHO CAN MAEK WAR WITH THE BEAST?

I still wouldn't vote for you though. I'm voting for Osama.

http://www.golden-lamp.com

My God!

Rudy doesn't think that two wars, a possible recession, health care, security and immigration won't keep the President busy enough? Now he'll find time to criticize Russia?

Increase the military? More bonus money or just start a draft?

He's still talking about the Cold War. Rudy, Rudy, Rudy ... its the 2007 and heading towards 2008 if you haven't changed you calendar recently.

God help us all if we get another chest-thumping, wanna-be king of the world as U.S. president. Sounds like Giuliani wants to rule the U.S. just like he ruled New York City, with an iron fist. We need a president who actually has some basic human insight and wisdom in his world perspective, not another power-hungry demagogue.

This guy is another absolute moron!

OMG...even Bush is doing better with foreign relations with Putin...and that is the first time I ever gave Bush credit for anything. "We're not in a Cold War, there is no longer a Soviet empire"...Giuliani does not have a clue regarding foreign policy. In case Mr. Giuliani hasen't noticed...military might is not working! (Plus, Russia is alive and well). In my opinion, Giuliani could really inflict big time damage in the foreign relations arena. If the majority of people in NY (which seems to be the case) are telling fellow Americans that this man cannot cut it...I think we should ALL listen!

Sure, dumbass.

Let's ignore, nay, help Putin amass more and more power, instead of helping Russia's was-amazing fledgling democracy, then give our military industrial complex a permanent erection by *recreating* the cold war, and making Americans focus on this rather than all of the destruction in America these Repubs have caused the last 7 years of "rule" by Darth Cheney...um, I mean, President Potato Head.

Giuliani: When insanity will do for president.

Brilliant stratagey, Numbskull!! Our military is nearly depleated numerically and financially and YOU want to confront and further antagonize the Russians and their despot leader, Vladimir Putin. Smooth move, Exlax...

I find this type of speak from Giuliani particularly disheartening. Having spent a significant portion of my life as an American living in Russia, and trying to understand the Russian political system for the confusing beast that it is, one thing both politicians and the American media is continuing to ignore is the fact of what Russians want for their country. 1) They want Putin (or people like Putin) in power. The 1990s under Yeltsin were like a nightmare for most Russians from which they are just now starting to wake up. Putin may not be who the Americans want, but Americans aren't the people voting in Russia, the Russians are. Developing another arms race will do nothing but raise government spending on so-called preventative defense (despite the fact that two nights ago in the debate Giuliani insisted he was for lower spending)and raise international tensions between Russia and the USA, impeding the progress both countries would enjoy if they were working together with greater cooperation. It is true that Russia is not a democracy the way that Americans view democracy. But Russia is still in the early stages of its own democratic development, and it needs to set its own course, not have it dictated to them by people like Giuliani who feel the need to "look tough" at the expense of American effort, resources, and the potential of both the Russian and American people.

Seriously, to think we can just take on Russia, China, Iran, Al-Quaida and just about everyone shows how extremely stupid we really are. "Scarface" would do better as president than some of our candidates, and given our drug problems, would be more "appropriate" for the role lol

CNN put my comment back in, what is with you guys?

Wait...so since we are not in the cold war any longer and we don't want to get ourselves back into that situation, the best idea would be to become militarily stronger, which is exactly what happened in the cold war, you know, something we are no longer in, and would rue the day to get back to that place, which would be done by...

my head hurts.

Ever hear of diplomacy? Seems your a photocopy of our current and very unpopular cowboy president.

Thank you! At least someone sees through the B.S. of today's politics to see the threat growing under our very noses. It has nothing to do with the defense installation as Putin claims, Russia is rising from the ashes to walk side-by-side with China and together they will attempt to become the new stronghold of power on the world's horizon.

At least this isn't a crazy reaction or anything...oh wait

Brilliant. Sounds pretty Cold War-esque like to me. Let's create even more fear-mongering amongst the public.

You got to reward your sugardaddy someday isn't it.

GOD HELP US IF THIS MAN IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE HE WOULD START WORLD WAR 3, Rudy please just do us a favor and Go watch TCM because you are a WACKJOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Real smart.......

Can anyone say draft? There is no way we can continue this rhetoric without it.

"The good part with Russia is we're not in a Cold War..."

So this guy dweeb want to start one?

Seems to be the neocon knee-jerk response to most stimuli: when all else fails, rattle a sabre.

This man is mad. His actions, if elected, will result in the US declining economically, losing its global status, or, if worse comes to worst, a global war.
He is insane.

THE COLD WAR IS OVER RUDY!!!!!!!!!

You gotta remember, had it not been for Giuliani, the NYPD,NYFD, and every other possible assistance agency would have been just standing around scratching their you know whats.

Why do so many republicans think the only way to solve problems is by drawing guns?

Someone please explain this to me.

Someone needs to get the military back up to it's former strength after Clinton took it apart.

America needs to retain it's military superiority, not only for our own safety, but also for the peace that a strong military commands. The only way to prevent being dominated, is to be prepared. Anyone who doesn't understand this only has to discover something called History.

Holy cow, this man is utterly insane.

Rudy is crazy. He wants to "build up" our forces everytime anything ever happens.

So how will we pay for that?
Guiliani just argued the other day that democrats will raise taxes, suggesting that he won't.
We are already in a debt hole and digging deeper and deeper thanks to a Republican President and 6 years of a Republican Congress (not one veto in 6 years).
More and more of our tax dollar is just going to pay the interest on the debt. Any talk of doing anything without being truthful as to where the money comes from is a joke. And that's doubly true when it come from the irresponsible folks that drive us deeper into debt.

Wow... So Giuliani wants to start the Cold War up again?!?! I suppose peace isn't as lucrative as war, but come on, let's not start making Russia mad again! Do we need to be at a cold, maybe hot this time, war with Russia and then also be fighting in Afghanistan and in Iraq?! Wow, that guy is idiotic!

New Yorkers know what the rest of the country doesn't: that on September 10, 2001, Guiliani was so unpopular in NYC he couldn't have been elected as dog catcher.

By September 13, people were ready to elect him as superman, pope, and benevolent grandpa all rolled into one.

The trouble with a man who can't govern on a day-to-day basis but can function well in a crisis is that he will be compelled to manufacture crisis after crisis in order to look good.

He thrives on controversy, embraces chaos, and needs a crisis in order to cover up his many inadequacies.

A military build-up to counter Putin? We need a military build-up to counter Rudy.

Guliani proves how dim he is here. He wants to make a millitary response to Russia, his response is the definition of a cold war. This idiot doesn't think 2 wars at once is enough, he'ld like to go for 3. Tough guy wants to get us all killed. Guaruntee a new hot war within 2 years of him taking office. Guaruntee.

Oh, heck yeah. More military spending to warn off Putin and China. Invade Iran and Korea. Heck, while we're at it, let's add some more military might just in case Sweden starts looking dangerous. Our grandchildren will be more than happy to pay off this debt later.

Putin must be using Diebold voting machines too.Lmao

Military Build up, against China and Russia?

Giuliani must have a small man complex, always resorting to violence.

His answer to everything is war or threaten them... This guy is an idiot. Oh yeah and 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11

Another saber rattling war-monger who thinks the only solution is the barrel of a gun.

I wonder where Rudy plans to get the money to pay for the build up. Oh thats right the Russians and the Chinese. Great strategy.

This man is a total loser.....

THE LECHEROUS OLD FOOL SPEAKS!

Wow! Giuliani says we need to increase our military strength to combat the influence of Russia and China. Holy Cow! Giuliani is expecting a war on terrorism and a war on communis...(wait I mean) communist principles, since officially neither China or Russia are completely communist. With Rudy's thinking, he would fulfill GW Bush's vision of World War III, except that Iran and North Korea would not be players. It would the US vs Russia or the US vs China. Please keep Rudy out of the White House and get him back on his 9/11 speech tours. While he is at it, he should concentrate on maintaining his 3rd marriage.

THIS GUY IS SUPREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE IN HIS COMMENTS ABOUT RUSSIA AND HE DISPLAYS A SHOCKING OBLIVION ON THE FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES OUR COUNTRY FACES... plus HE LACKS TACT IN SPEAKING ABOUT SUCH SENSITIVE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS !!
Wow and to think Republicans would actually pick RUDY. This should be interesting ...!

How can we pay for this rudy? The taxpayer is already overwhelmed, heck we're paying for the security for your wife, the security of the women you have affairs with and your ex-wive(s).

Come on, typical chickenhawk, more soldiers get to play chess.

it seems Barack Hessein Obama will say anything to win primary. Iowa people don't believe false promises and vote this guy.

Here goes the future nut neo-con Guilianni spouting the "Bush-like"dangerous statements. This man has no business being the commander-in-chief of the most powerful military in the world.