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US Defence Secretary Gates proposes defence cuts
bbc. ^ | 9 August 2010

Posted on 08/09/2010 7:51:39 PM PDT by JoeProBono

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has recommended axeing one of the ten major US military commands in a major reallocation of defence spending. Mr Gates said the Joint Forces Command would close, the use of outside contractors would be cut and the number of generals and admirals reduced. He has said that he wants to find savings of about $100bn (£63bn) in the military budget in the next five years.

Mr Gates said he wanted to free up spending for frontline requirements. In a Pentagon news conference, he said the military had grown unwieldy and costly following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. "I'm not satisfied with the progress made to reduce our over-reliance on contractors," Mr Gates said. The Joint Forces Command, based in Virginia, employs 5,000 people and trains troops from the different services to work together. Calling the US military "top-heavy",

Mr Gates, who was appointed by George W Bush in 2006, said he would recommend eliminating at least 50 positions for generals and admirals.....

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: defence; robertgates

1 posted on 08/09/2010 7:51:46 PM PDT by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

The true story here is Obama is FORCING Defense cuts while we fight two wars.


2 posted on 08/09/2010 8:00:33 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: JoeProBono

Treason is afoot I Proclaim without reservation!


3 posted on 08/09/2010 8:02:53 PM PDT by J Edgar
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To: mylife

There is a growing trend, I hear, of soldiers not reenlisting. Jimmuh Cahtuh redux.


4 posted on 08/09/2010 8:05:59 PM PDT by ArmyTeach ( When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. (TJ))
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To: mylife

If they were serious we’d see reductions of 25% across the board in the ranks of the civil service in all agencies.

In tough times, the first thing a new private sector CEO does is cut the workforce by 10% to 15%. Productivity actually improves in most instances due to the elimination of dead wood.

Over the past 30 years, most private companies have gone through waves of downsizings resulting in fewer people doing significantly more work. At the same time, government employment has grown in good times and bad. Given private sector experience, a 25% reduction in the exploding bureaucracy should be easy to execute with no reduction in services.


5 posted on 08/09/2010 8:26:06 PM PDT by Soul of the South (When times are tough the tough get going.)
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To: JoeProBono

Better cut defense spending. Thousands of military personnel and contractors out of work is definitely the way to create jobs... oh I mean they ran out of money to pay welfare queens.


6 posted on 08/09/2010 8:28:20 PM PDT by DreamingWest
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To: Soul of the South

You could be correct. I just question the timing.


7 posted on 08/09/2010 8:30:28 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: JoeProBono

*Paging Charlie Wilson*

8 posted on 08/09/2010 9:44:21 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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