Jerry Moran said the country faces tremendous issues regarding national defense.
The Kansas congressman also said it is important for members of the military to engage in a dialogue with U.S. representatives.
He said members of the military may be prohibited from lobbying Congress. But it is important for them to explain what they think is important when asked a question.
“I don’t come to you as a military expert,” Moran said Tuesday while speaking at Fort Leavenworth.
He said most members of Congress have never served in the military.
Moran, who lives in Hays, represents Kansas’ 1st District, which does not include Leavenworth County.
His comments were made to military officers attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
Moran said that during an earlier visit with the fort’s commanding general, he indicated he would like to speak to a class at the CGSC. But Moran said he had been thinking of talking to 20 to 30 people, not a full auditorium as he did on Tuesday.
Moran said he had great regard for the men and woman of the military.
He discussed serving in Congress as well as some of the issues facing its members.
He also took questions including one about the possibility of terrorist suspects in custody at Guantanamo Bay being moved to Fort Leavenworth’s U.S. Disciplinary Barracks.
Moran said it makes no sense to have the detainees at Fort Leavenworth.
“The facilities here are not adequate,” he said.
He said security at the fort was not designed for such a purpose. He noted that young children live on the fort.
Moran said it seems there is no practical choice when it comes to moving the detainees from the U.S. Navy base in Cuba.
“There is no good on-shore alternative,” he said.
Moran noted that Sen. Sam Brownback and U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, both from Kansas, have introduced legislation to keep the detainees from being moved to the fort.
Moran said he’s guessing the entire Kansas congressional delegation is unanimous in opposition to moving the detainees to Fort Leavenworth.
Moran also discussed plans for a stimulus package.
He said there is some merit to increasing the expenditure for infrastructure. But he expressed concern that members of Congress will add anything they can think of to the stimulus package.
He later said that it needs to be recognized that the country doesn’t have the money to be all things to all people.
If there has to be a stimulus package, there needs to be a corresponding plan to reduce spending, Moran said.
“And we’ll never get to that part,” he said.
Fort Leavenworth, Kan. —
