----- Original Message -----
From: "Graf, John Adams" <grafj@krause.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 2:23 PM
Subject: [MV] De-mil Bill Status, December 14
Again, my apologies to the non-US list members for this post.
>
Not at all, taking time to make the courteous statement is not lost.
Often some of the inappropriate legislation from your end is noted by the EU
bumpf makers and regurgitated as a good idea, we need to be on the ball.
>
It was announced last night that the National Defense Authorization Act
(the bill which originally contained the offending Section 1062) was
passed by both Houses yesterday. The vote in the House was 382-40,
followed several hours later by a 96-2 vote in the Senate.
That means, the S1438 has been approved as resubmitted by Committee, and
that resubmition DID NOT contain section 1062.
>
Excellent, and congratulations to all the pressure groups and private protestors
are in order. It is quite satisfying, as a powerless alien, to see the small
guy's sensibility triumph over the mighty bureaucratic bludgeon.
>
The last step in the process is for the Bill to go to President Bush for
signing. As a point of reference, the Bill also gives Bush his full
$8.3 billion request for missile defense research and development, so it
might sail through his office effortlessly.
>
Indeed it might very well, on a grab it and run basis.
I regret to rain on your parade, however, after a short period of relaxing and
celebration, I would counsel maintained vigilance; it seems from here that two
attempts have been made in sliding this sweeping legislation through, this last
one appeared to be a real back door job and only spotted at the 11th hour. I
would fear that you are going to re-visit this at the same time next year and
3rd time lucky for the uninformed and inept law writers doesn't bear thinking
about; stay loose.
Some years ago we had a crusty old cigar puffing duffer running the show here,
whilst his words referred to an entirely different military scenario that you
may find in a decent history book, they do not seem totally inappropriate to the
current specific situation:
"We may allow ourselves a short period of rejoicing, however, this is not the
end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but, it may be the end, of the
beginning."
Well done guys,
Richard
Southampton - England
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