This afternoon, the Department of Defense will conduct detailed briefs on the FY 2010 defense budget request. While much of what Secretary Gates’ has proposed for the military budget in FY 2010 and in the coming years has already been made public, today’s proceedings should provide a much clearer picture.
Here is what we already know:
- The FY 2010 total defense budget will represent a $5.5 billion real reduction from FY 2009.
- President Obama’s 10-year defense spending plans fall well short of what the nation needs to spend and what it can afford to spend.
- Driving President Obama and Secretary Gates’ vision of how the military should be organized is the flawed assumption that the future will continue to resemble the irregular and ‘hybrid’ missions the U.S. military faces today.
- Although Gates has talked about ‘balancing’ the force, he has also recommended ending or delaying numerous programs central to retaining American military primacy across the full-spectrum of conflict over the next 20-30 years.
- The next step towards implementing Gates’ vision for how the military should be organized for the future will be the Pentagon’s Quadrennial Defense Review process, due out early next year. This process began last week.
While Congress will have to seriously consider the impact some of the proposals Secretary Gates has made in the coming months, there is one step they can take today to ensure the process Gates’ has initiated remains transparent and consistent with the best interests of American national security. Pursuant to law, Congress should oversee the establishment of an independent National Defense Panel to provide an outside evaluation of the prevailing opinions at the Pentagon. This panel should be made up of a number of defense experts with varying perspectives so that a truly transparent review and discussion can accompany the ongoing QDR process at the Pentagon.
How do you cut spending on Defense, while giving almost $1 billion to Hamas and millions to ACORN ? How much money has been spent to date on programs that will be part of the $5.5 million cut. 1/3rd of all of the cuts seem to be coming from what is the only responsibility of the federal government. Yes, lets put sod on the national mall and give welfare to the enemy, while cutting back on 21st century weapons that will save the lives of those who volunteer to protect the rest of us. I have an idea – The BHO CVN 77.
Turmoil all around us ! Case in point , Iran,Afganistan,Pakistan,Iraq,Syria and the goverment of Russia looking to regain military dominance – and China building up its naval forces.
Throw into this North Korea with its missle tests and Iran with its nuclear visions.
With all of this the United States Dept.of Defense not only suggests but puts together a budget cut in defense spending ?
Reality is , The US Navy is at an all time low in the number of combat vessles , this includes aircraft carriers. I believe we hover around 230-250 ships down from a cold war number of around 630 ships.
The US Air Force most probably could use an additional amount of F-16 if not the F-22's , not to mention support craft such as tankers and early warning craft.
The US Army should be about a Million men stronger than it currently is.
I am sure that even the US Coast Guard could use a few more ships.
The point is ,take the 5.5 Billion and if you redirect these funds away from Some future projects , then those funds should be kept to decrease the vulnerability in the various branches of our military.
The missle defense shield should be put into active service asap.
However to simply cut away 5.5 Billion dollars just to Look fiscally responsable is an irresponsable course of action.
Even in our time of economic turmoil , We Do Not need to cut defense spending by even 1 penny.
Americans need to understand this , and push for moderate build ups instead of penny pinching.
This course of action endangers Our troops and is not a fair course to pursue.
Countries with military ambitions are looking at us as a country that is slowly dwindling away as a super power , I would Hate to agree with this as I know we can do better !
Remeber, President Obamalamaloo can only do his damage for another three and a half plus years! Remember too, that most of you voted for him. Lats thing to remember, 2010 is the next Election. Remove his tools! Soesn't matter if they are Democrats or Republican, or whatevers, just as long as the ones supporting him now are removed!
Hozro
I'm a 21 year military veteran and I can honestly say the QDR is irrelevant. Except for the first one, it has always been formulated around the budget and not strategic need.
Make the list of those who do damage to America
for the 2010 Elections!