Posted on 04/05/2009 1:52:31 PM PDT by Schnucki
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, will on Monday offer proposals to slash spending on major military projects in what aides called a "fundamental shift in direction".
Mr Gates, who spent the weekend finalising his budget plans for 2010, is expected to take aim at several major weapons conventional warfare programmes, in favour of spending on technologies more useful to the "asymmetrical" wars that US forces are embroiled in.
After eight years in which the defence budget doubled, and with the economy in deep recession, Mr Gates is targeting systems that have gone way over both budget and schedule.
The proposals are however subject to approval by Congress and will face opposition from Republican senators arguing that cutting military hardware development will hit American workers hardest.
Projects likely to be scaled back or scrapped include the army's $150 billion Future Combat Systems, which would combine manned and unmanned ground vehicles and aerial drones acting in sync. Field tests began last year but the system's hi-tech communications have been beset by difficulties.
Mr Gates has signalled that the air force's demands for more F-22 stealth fighter jets are unlikely to be granted, pointing out that highly regarded plane "has not performed a single mission in either theatre" of Afghanistan or Iraq.
He is also considering cutting one of the navy's 11 aircraft carriers and a new $20 billion satellite programme that would fill any gaps in current coverage of the globe's surface. With almost every major project under review, President Barack Obama has even suggested that the upgrading of his Marine One helicopter fleet could be delayed.
"These are not changes to the margins. This is a fundamental shift in direction," said the Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell.
Mr Gates's plans would still increase the Pentagon's regular budget by four per
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
“...and military NEEDS a cut”
Yep, cutting the $150B acquisition budget will sure help - while Obama is spending 2,0000B on stuff no one needs.
Most conservatives oppose wasteful spending on defense. We also recognize it is one of the few real requirements of government spending, and that erring on the small side here kills a lot of Americans.
You’ve got to be kidding. Wasteful spending is everywhere in the government, and it doesn’t bother you that the only place where they’re talking about cutting it is in the DoD? Not to mention that a liberal’s “wasteful spending” are weapons programs that may very well save all our a**es one day?”
The democrats passed $1 TRILLION in wasteful spending and called it “STIMULUS”. These cuts are all going towards the ever-expanding-welfare-state.
Let’s see, we have:
1. Tax the producers
2. Spend the Government into bankruptcy
3. Defang our military
If someone was deliberately trying to destroy America, they could not have come up with a better plan.
“What is going to replace it, harsh language?”
Obama isn’t tough enough for that. He’s going to replace it with SOFT language. Like telling nKorea that, since they launched a missile, we’re going to take the moral lead and cut our nuclear stockpile.
You cannot out-wimp Obama!
“The real problem which this budget uncovers is that a leaders mistake will be paid for in the blood of our children and grandchildren. We must maintain our military strength and capabilities. Prepare for the worst; hope for the best. One thing which the world understands in strength.”
Well said. The logic that since F-22 was not used in Iraq or Afghanistan ergo its not needed at all is ... illogical.
That said, we can probably scale back military spending overall, but reducing overseas deployments outside hot zones, ie, less troops in Germany, Japan etc.
The replies here, suggests that even Republicans are big government ppl. We’re in a difficult economic position at moment and military NEEDS a cut.”
???? We just INCREASED SPENDING BY $1 TRILLION BECAUSE OF THE WEAK ECONOMY!!
If the correct response to a weak economy is reducing Govt outlays, then the Democrats are going in the wrong direction with their $3.5 TRILLION BUDGET!
And note, the DoD is less than 15% of that total. Cut the other 85% too.
B_ S _ _ _ DS!
You're right about the plan to destroy America. But it has both (liberal) GOP and 'Rat fingerprints on it.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
During the Savings and Loan Scandal, it was said that the best way to rob a bank is to own it. Correspondingly, the best way to wreck a country is to "rule" it. Note that Obama's people said "rule" while Bush mentioned "serving" as President. There is a difference.
You have it wrong. We don’t advocate wasteful spending but a lot of us went through the Carter where the draw down was so drastic that it risked our national security. Then Clinton did the same thing. Guess you forget all the attacks on our troops during the Clinton years culiminating on 9/11 thanks to making a lot of our military a paper tiger.
The Constitution, that pesky little document, requires that we spend money on defense of our Country. It does not say we are required to spend money on bailing out everything under the sun.
Makes me wonder why you didn’t know that!
In almost every respect. I am glad I served during the Reagan administration.
But, I saw easily as much waste, if not more, in slightly less than two years as a Job Corps employee right here in Idaho. If DC wants to eliminate wasteful spending, do away with Job Corps altogether!
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Yep. The Army I left in 1996 wasn't the same Army I joined in 1985.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
You’re right, but let’s give credit where credit is due. Bush and a number of Pubbies in Congress got the ball rolling with their $700 billion in wasteful spending back in October.”
Whao, nellie ... bush and the DEMOCRATS in Congress got the ball rolling. That bill was WRITTEN BY CHRIS DODD AND BARNEY FRANK! The Democrats have run Congress since 2007. The dems demanded bipartisan cover for the $700 billion and (too many) Republicans (like McCain) stupidly complied.
“Pubbies can’t criticize Obamanation’s wasteful spending “
YES, WE CAN! the GOP got off the bailout train early, more than half in the House did NOT vote for the 1st bailout, and more defected down the line.
ZERO GOP votes for Obama’s faux massive spending ‘stimulus’ and ZERO GOP votes for the massive $3.5 billion.
GOP opposition to auto bailouts and housing bailouts and the next round of Bailouts Without End.
The october vote did not have a clause that said they were wedded to any and all bailouts going forward.
So even if the other side tries out that argument, its a feeble one. Its one thing to vote for an emergency bailout because you think the global credit system is collapsing, another to vote for $10 TRILLION in new debt over the next 8 years (which the Dems have done).
What...u got a problem w/ that?
Like telling nKorea that, since they launched a missile, we’re going to take the moral lead and cut our nuclear stockpile.
Let’s see, we have:
1. Tax the producers
2. Spend the Government into bankruptcy
3. Defang our military
Carter was one of the worst POTUS in history. That being said what happened to the military was not all his doing. It was in shambles when he took office from POTUS Ford and Sec of Def Rummy's policies. In Carter's worse years carriers did not miss movement due to ships readiness issues nor did they flunk critical evaluations. The Dems Carter & Clinton and the Ford/Bush 1&2 policy makers have all but destroyed the military.
Actually Navy wise things began turning around the last year and a half under Carter. Likely not to his credit though but a new Secretary of the Navy who understood tradition and Morale. I joined at the closing of Ford's term. I got to my ship by mid February 1977. U.A's and desertion was common. People were walking off and getting out. That was Rummy policy. By late 79 that was stopped. You did your time plus brig time, plus bad time. No more walk away 31 days and turn yourself in instant civilian was allowed.
Reagan was brilliant on rebuilding our military much more than W ever was. Reagan took advantage of the 1982 recession and the ranks were filled in the military. After 9/11 there was people beating down the doors to getin and we had a GOP Congress yet W did nothing to increase the ranks. Had W did his job concentrating on being Commander in Chief rather than the China and Saudi Trade Broker Osbama's continuing gutting of the military may have been lessened. Instead the dowensizing continued.
By the time Poppy and Cheney, Clinton and Aspin-Perry-Cohen, and Bush 2 and Rummy-Gates got done we didn't have but a fraction of the Reagan military. There was no excuse for W not rebuilding our military. But Bush wasn't a Reagan Republican he was a Ford and Poppy Republican which is about the same thing as a DEM. I find it odd as well people post how Clinton gutted thew military, yet 6 of his 8 years was under a two house GOP majority.
We need real leadership in the office of POTUS. Sad to sat the last one left in January 1989. Also sad is the fact there isn't a penny difference between a DEM Sec of Defense or a GOP Sec of Def either. Rummy nor Cheney were fit to tie Caps shoes. Carter, Poppy, Clinton, Junior and Osbama aren't fit to be in the same presence as a leader like Reagan was. He made mistakes yes. But he was our nations last real POTUS. The rest have been representatives of corporations occupying the office.
Osbama is a result of what Republicans have it's own allowed party leaders to lower the standards to. Leaders the stature of Reagan or who would follow Reagan political doctorines are now unelectable in the GOP. Liberal Republicans who are not that far apart on issues with the DEM's are called hero's. What makes matters worse was the handpicks W helped put in both houses over conservatives. As a nation we've fallen considerably since early 1989. Yet no one can open their eyes and see why.
Seems like we lose a carrier for every Dem term in office. I am pretty sure we had 13 when Clinton started, 11 when he left office.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.