Last Monday (July 22), the Montana Defense Alliance (MTDA) used about 700 words to tell readers of the Great Falls (MT) Tribune that they were against President Obama’s plan to reduce “deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third.”

I am against President Obama’s plan, too. I only used seven words.

Readers may remember that the MTDA is a committee (requiring $300 annual membership fee) out of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Back when I mentioned that fact in an earlier column, a frequent reader told me that fee was on top of the annual fee to be a member of the Chamber. The MTDA is a pretty territorial organization as they came out against a plan in the Montana Legislature to create a statewide military task force – a plan that I supported.

I was going to let the “treatise” from the MTDA as well as some of the reporting surrounding nuclear weapons go without comment, but then on Sunday the Chairman of the MTDA penned a letter to the editor (not online) that was given the title, “Likes delegation.” The Chairman said the MTDA had basically dropped the ball when they wrote, “We would expect all members of Congress to hold the president to task in retaining national capability…”

Ouch. They apparently ticked off one or more members of the home team (Baucus, Tester, and Daines).  

The Chairman continued his mea culpa with:

To clarify, Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Steve Daines are working hand-inhand, not only on this issue, but on all issues affecting Montana’s military — active duty, Guard, Reserve and veterans — and national security. Add in Gov. Steve Bullock, and we are currently seeing a “Montana team” like we have never seen before.

The Montana Defense Alliance salutes the team working every day for our military and national security. The rest of the politicians should take a lesson from our team who places national security and state interests above politics.

I think it’s time for a reality check about the “Montana team.” If any faithful readers believe that Baucus and Tester (Democrats) want to work with and share knowledge (and publicity) on military or any issues with Daines (a Republican who will either run for the U.S. House or U.S. Senate next year ), then I have some ocean-front property near Geyser to sell you.

I highly doubt we’ll see the three marching “hand-inhand” while singing Kumbaya on the way to present Montana’s case to officials at the Pentagon.

It’s politics 24/7. The people who support Montana’s military should not forget that.

The fact is the “Montana Team” might have a problem distinguishing the difference between the launch of a Minuteman III missile and a bottle rocket. Sadly, some people writing and reporting about it might suffer the same problem.

But at least they keep us entertained…

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