Our Troops Deserve Better: New TV Ad Calls for Leadership on Effective National Security Spending

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Security Project (ASP) released a new, televised advertisement entitled, "Our Troops Deserve Better." The TV ad aims to promote the debate around responsible, smart, and effective defense spending while calling on elected leaders to not support proposed funding for a Cold War era nuclear strategy. 

The TV ad will air on CNN at 8 p.m. during the Republican GOP debate on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.

The ad can be viewed at the following link: www.AmericanSecurityProject.org.

BGen Steve A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.), CEO of ASP, commented: "ASP is a nonpartisan organization. We do not subscribe to the 'left' or the 'right' – but rather, we are focused on promoting a thorough debate around smart and effective national security spending. Discussions around spending on dated weapons systems must be on the table, especially at a time when our resources are limited." 

BGen Cheney went on to say: "The modern threat is not the 'Soviets.' Today, we live in a world where rogue nations and terrorists desire to acquire nuclear weapons. We have to adapt our national security and nuclear security strategies to the needs of our changing world."

The TV ad released by ASP will air in the midst of a continued domestic debate around defense spending and ongoing assessments of responsible spending on nuclear weapons. Proposed funding for Cold War era nuclear weapons does not reflect responsible, smart and effective spending in today's economy, nor does it help allocate more resources toward more effective national security measures and resources for American troops. 

LtGen John "Glad" Castellaw, USMC (Ret.), a member of the Consensus for American Security, said: "Strengthening and updating our approach to national security in the 21st century is a vital element to protecting America. We must not chain ourselves to the security issues of a bygone, Cold War era. Instead, we must align our weapons, forces and capabilities around modern security challenges and threats because a failure to do so is just too risky.  Our present nuclear posture is suited to face the Soviet Union – a state that dissolved in 1991 – thus, it is outdated."

Gen Castellaw added: "We can no longer afford to look back. We need to continue to ask: What does 21st century deterrence look like today and for the future? Still, we need a strong national defense strategy matched with the smartest elements of American power. Effective defense spending must be included in this debate. We hope our elected leaders hear the call for leadership on this at such a crucial time in our nation and economy."

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AD

About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, nonpartisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges. For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org.

SOURCE American Security Project