Posted on 02/23/2014 3:55:41 PM PST by kristinn
Teeing up what could be a politically explosive fight before the midterm elections in November, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday will recommend billions of dollars in annual budget cuts that would reduce housing allowances and other benefits, increase health-care premiums, and limit pay raises, CBS News confirms.
The recommendations, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, are part of a broader effort to trim the Pentagon's budget while minimizing the impact on preparedness and capability. But they're likely to provoke fierce opposition from veterans' interest groups and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The Pentagon argues that personnel costs are simply too big a share of the defense budget to ignore. "Personnel costs reflect some 50 percent of the Pentagon budget and cannot be exempted in the context of the significant cuts the department is facing," Adm. John Kirby, the Defense Department's top spokesman, told the Journal. "Secretary Hagel has been clear that, while we do not want to, we ultimately must slow the growth of military pay and compensation."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
If they do all the above IN ORDER (in other words, they do #1...and if that isn't sufficient, move to #2, and if that doesn't work, then finally do #3), I would be willing to consider consenting to some sacrifice. Again, if it was necessary, I'm certain my brethren on active duty would agree.
But not until that point. I am not at all sanguine to having to give anything up from my retirement nor am I willing to give anything up as far as current / retired military benefits for the troops as long as free money is provided to illegal aliens, foreign dictators, or the lazy who choose not to work. Or to the Congressweenies and executive branch political appointees who, too easily, are happy to say "let them eat cake."
Another traitor who should be in prison.
They need the money to bail out Ukraine. (Jack Lew said so.)
Just Get rid of the Redundant Government Bureaucracy and we will save enough to buy a couple of countries.
I have no doubt the Military Could Trim some Fat too.
So Start with the Bronze Artsy Frog Statue at Andrews Air Force Base or whatever.
Doing that will save up the pennies fast.
“Chucky will take away the incentive to join the military”
The administration has a plan,that it got from George W. Bush, on how to hire people to do jobs that Americans won’t do.
The Pentagon 1st needs to greatly trim the bloat at DOD in Washington D.C. before considering hitting enlisted pay and benefits.
Meanwhile they will also recommend increasing civilian pay and time off I bet.
Yes, a volunteer military is very expensive. That is why countries that fight large scale ground wars against competent enemies do it with conscript armies. You can fight a war against third world armies and defeat them less expensively.
HUGE cuts should come first to the EPA. IRS, TSA, DEA, and about a DOZEN other black holes sucking Federal MONEY.
Setting up a coup.
LYONS: The Islamic cloud over Brennan and Hagel
National security may not be a first priority
By Adm. James A. Lyons Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Illustration by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times
Enlarge Photo
Illustration by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times more >
STORY TOPICS
Politics
John O. Brennan
Chuck Hagel
Muslim Brotherhood
United States Central Intelligence Agency
By Adm. James A. Lyons Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Two key national security nominations by President Obama are up for confirmation following Congress‘ recess this week: former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense, and John O. Brennan, the president’s key counterterrorism adviser, to be the director of the CIA. Both candidates have had to address issues based on their past and current activities and associations. Troublingly, a number of questions still remain unanswered.
One explosive issue is a report by John Guandolo that broke last week on Tom Trento’s “TrentoVision Show” and also was carried by Glenn Beck on Feb. 11. The report stated that Mr. Brennan was converted to Islam while CIA station chief in Saudi Arabia from 1996 to ‘99. Let’s be clear: In America, a man’s religion can never be a condition to his holding a government position. It is protected by both the First Amendment and Article 6 of the Constitution. Therefore, even if it is true that he converted, Mr. Brennan’s religion should not be an issue.
However, according to Mr. Guandolo — a former SWAT team leader at the FBI, counterterrorism and Muslim Brotherhood specialist and Marine platoon commander — what should be an issue was the Saudis’ targeted recruitment of Mr. Brennan to the ideology of Islam while he was serving as the CIA station chief in Riyadh. This was not just a conversion but a political act by a foreign intelligence service.
If verified, this would indicate Mr. Brennan’s susceptibility, whether witting or unwitting, to manipulation by a foreign intelligence entity. It’s interesting that no counterintelligence alarm was triggered at the time that this alleged conversion was occurring. Most likely, that’s because at that time the sophisticated Islamic objectives driving the global jihad movement by the Muslim Brotherhood were not understood by those who witnessed his “conversion.”
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/19/the-islamic-cloud-over-brennan-and-hagel/#ixzz2uCf0mvfb
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
They’ve been dead to me for quite some time.
If the federal government spent money only on what they can do according to the Constitution, I bet we could cut the federal budget in half.
You don’t think Obama WANTS to weaken our military?
Love it, ole Chucky is going to put military pay below minimum wage. How fitting coming from this disgraceful administration.
From what I’ve read, when he was in the Army, Hagel was an enlisted man who didn’t have a good grip on buck private, and he is proving to be likewise as SECDEF under emperor 0bama.
I have a nephew who is a staff sergeant in the Army with 15 years in. He is just hoping to be able to finish out his 20 and retire!
Active duty ping.
I would sign up to that, only under those pre-determined triggers. Way too much FedGov excess in other places. Hagel’s plan is akin to sacrificing muscle to cover for the fat.
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