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Obama Administration defense cuts

By: Dan Spencer (Diary)  |  April 6th, 2009 at 04:47 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Defense Secretary Robert Gates revealed the Obama Administration’s restructuring of the Pentagon’s top weapons priorities.

There was a lot of information thrown out in the Gates press briefing, but the biggest talking points are likely to be the cuts:

  • Stop the growth of Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) at 45 versus 48
  • Retire 250 of the oldest Air Force tactical fighter aircraft in FY10.
  • End production of the F-22 fighter at 187.
  • Not pursue a development program for a follow-on Air Force bomber until we have a better understanding of the need, the requirement, and the technology.
  • Reduce the Navy’s carrier force to 10 carriers after 2040.
  • Delay the CG-X next generation cruiser program.
  • Delay amphibious ship and sea-basing programs.
  • End the DDG-1000 destroyer program with the third ship.
  • “Complete” production of the C-17 airlifter program this fiscal year with the 205 already in the force and currently in production.
  • Terminate the VH-71 presidential helicopter program.
  • Terminate the Air Force Combat Search and Rescue X (CSAR-X) helicopter program.
  • Terminate the $26 billion Transformational Satellite (TSAT) program.
  • Cancel the planned increase the number of current ground-based interceptors in Alaska.
  • Cancel the second airborne laser (ABL) prototype aircraft.
  • Terminate the Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) program.
  • Cancel  the vehicle component of the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.
  • Reduce the number of support service contractors from our current 39% to 26% and replace them with as many as 30,000 full-time government employees.

You can read Secretary Gates’ Budget Press Briefing here.

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COMMENTS

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  • http://www.phxgonline.com phxg

    The only thing I am surprised to see is the canceling of the presidential helicopter program.

    I wonder if the Big Dog program will continue? This is one of the coolest and most needed products soldiers need. They carry so much they have become less soldier, and more pack mule.

  • gekster

    Clinton jumped on top of the “peace” dividend that was handed to him by Uncle Ronnie, and promptly cut defense spending to spend the money on other things.

    For moral reasons, he also ordered spies of nefarious nature to be taken off the CIA payroll, wich greatly hindered our intelligence gathering capability.
    Along with the inaction after the 93 WTC bombing,
    the disgrace of Samalia, and more or less sticking his finger out the window to see how he should think and act, Clinton’s actions and inactions finally ended on 9-11.

    I’ve been told those who ignore history tend to repeat it.
    Just what is in store for us with this man, Obama?

    see ya after the game. GO SPARTANS

    • Lammo

      I’m with you for two reasons:

      1) Jud Heathcote lives in Spokane;
      2) UNC knocked out my Gonzaga Bulldogs.

      Oh yeah, there’s a third reason. Didn’t the former junior senator from Illinois pick UNC to win?

    • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

      Surrender Doctrine and Defense Cuts – known to Democrats as Peace Dividend and Empower our enemies Act, leaving every Republican administration to pick up the pieces…. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH is the only Doctrine that keeps the USA safe, they never learn. Republicans are always chastised for “building up the military” but we wouldn’t have to (If they would leave the Military STRONG during their administrations) every time if the bleepin’ Democrats wouldn’t gut-it every time and require us to do the re-build.

  • vettepilot

    Unfortunately, the current hacks do not understand that the US military needs to be equipped to handle both the “Low-Intensity” conflicts (or overseas contingency operations, as I suppose we’re all supposed to call them now) we find ourselves currently engaged in, as well as the traditional large scale conflicts of the past (and future).

    During the Cold War, the US relied upon bringing superior technology to the battlefield as a force multiplier, allowing our troops to achieve substantially higher kill ratios than the enemy. Our tanks, particularly the M1, could engage Eastern Bloc systems beyond ranges where the enemy could return fire. Our fighter aircraft, working in conjunction with AWACs, could eliminate opposition air cover well outside of visual range. Our naval fleet allowed us to project our authority and protect our country anywhere in the world in a matter of days. All because of superior technology…

    Post- Cold War, the military higher ups finally recognized the value of our Elite military units, such as SEALs, Army Special Forces, Rangers, Force Recon, and Combat Controllers, during operations in Panama, Iraq, Bosnia, and countless un-named locations. The best trained soldiers in the world working in conjunction with Predator and Global Hawk UAVs have taught the bad guys that they can run but they can’t hide.

    The United States’ is actually at a unique position militarily in that, on our current track (assuming these changes do NOT happen), we will have a military that is more than capable of responding to a wide-variety of threats, without committing huge amounts of personnel to the battlefield. Again, largely due to our technological advantage and commitment to fighting the “next war.”

    What the administration proposes is eliminating that technological advantage that we bring to the battlefield, at a time when the gap between our most advanced tools and the rest of the world’s is rapidly narrowing. The F-22 is the US Air Force’s only real answer to the Russian Su-35/Su-37. The rapidly deteriorating F-15 fleet is likely still capable of going head-to-head with the best that the Russians/Chinese have to offer, but it will not sustain the kinds of kill ratios needed to establish and maintain air superiority…

    Of course, it’s all moot, as at the rate this administration is spending all the Chinese will have to do is stop buying our debt and we’ll no longer be able to put fuel in all of that equipment anyway….

  • Dave_in_Fla

    It is arguably the most mature satellite design in history. They are cancelling without any plan to provide support to the Army’s 2020 mission needs.

    Yeah, I’m pretty bitter today.

    • mom2oneson

      {{{Dave_in_FL}}}

      • Dave_in_Fla

        It put an IPv6 router on board the satellite itself, allowing the Army to have what is called “comm on the move”. Essentially armor and dismounts would have full Internet connectivity back to the US for inteligence updates while moving.

        The announced “replacement” of additional AEHF satellites does not support this capability (nor can it be modified to add it).

        The more I digest this, the more pissed I get.

        • SteveLA

          Dave,

          Sorry about the getting one shot out from under you.

          I did find a rather in depth article on TSAT, not sure how accurate this is as I have not been keeping current on satellite systems for a while. I worked around the edges on Milstar I, but switched to working mostly other sorts of space systems after the early days of that one.

          http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/006660.html#lessons

          This is a weird one, not like FIA that was in trouble when it got restructured/hacked up, so hard to figure other than the price tag. Wonder is this was a Sunnyvale buss or something out of Waterton Canyon?

  • bk

    Unlike Head Start and a few thousand other giveaways, defense spending is considered a “cost” not an “investment”.

  • The_Rebel

    of cutback during the Carter years, a cutback that led to the diasaster in the desert and the failed rescue attempt of the hostages? The only message sent by Gates is one that will embolden our enemies. We never seem to learn from our mistakes. May God help us.

    • Mike gamecock DeVine
    • vettepilot

      Operation Eagle Claw failed because it was an extremely complex operation that was being carried out by units that had never attempted those types of missions before, particularly on the aviation-side. Based on reports I’ve read, Eagle Claw stretched every soldier, planner, and piece of machinery involved to the absolute limit and beyond.

      I don’t know that the military anticipated that it would find itself carrying out those types of missions at that point in history. I also don’t know whether that can be directly attributed to actions taken by the Carter administration… What can be said is that foreign militaries such as Germany and Isreal WERE undertaking similar missions, so the failure to recognize that the US should have a similar capability can potentially be given to Carter.

      • The_Rebel

        leading up to Desert One, since he presided over its vast dimishment in size and quality since the withdrawal from Vietnam. The formidable array of Army and Air Force special operations forces that had performed feats of great bravery and military skill in the Vietnam theater was one such casualty of the post-Vietnam era under Carter.

        • The_Rebel

          n/t

          • DONTREADONME
          • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

            … will be training with brooms and shovels… remind you of anywhere?

            but those implications/comparisons are in another Diary ;-) The FORCED PAID VOLUNTEER (those 3 so not compatible) “Youth Groups” here are, of course, to buy more Democrat Votes, not provide Military training.

      • Section9

        1. The units from Project Delta were never put together to dry run the Mission from start to finish in the U.S. FWIU, a standing mockup of the Embassy was never built in the American West for fear of it being spotted by Soviet satellites and the information being passed on to Teheran.

        2. The equipment was, as you said, stretched to the limit. The whole “Jimmy Doolittle” aspect of the mission scratched redundancy. The mission was bound to fail and I’m not sure it faced a Murder Board.

        The upside? Eagle Claw as a template for the Army that came afterwards. The entire army was built on the foundation of what happened at Desert One. Oh, and Reagan’s election was guaranteed.

  • IJB

    This administration is criminally negligent.

    As soon as there’s an attack on this country, everyone involved in these decisions should be brought up on charges and put on trial, AFAIAC.

    • Bob_Frazier

      When war comes, I want to see the Obama daughters right there in the front line using the outdated and obsolete equipement. I don’t usually support women in combat, but in this case I’ll make an exception.

      If fact I want to see everyone who voted for Obama right there on the front line, with all that canceled equipment to help them fight.

  • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

    Does that about sum it up?

    Of course, it gives the liberal idiots a ready excuse to complain about spending when somebody has to come in and clean up the mess they’ve made. Also, of course, they always wait until their messes are cleaned up a bit before they start whining again.

    • navychick1993

      I remember enlisting during Clinton’s first year in office and the talk of what he was going to do to the military then. He cut the Navy’s fleet to an abysmal number and did even more damage to the other services as well. But I have a strong feeling that Obama might be out to do even more damage to the military than Clinton did. It is really sad…

      • Section9

        We’re talking an emergency shipbuilding program here.

        The upside? FDR used rearmament as a jobs program. The stupid Democrats are so addicted to welfare that they haven’t figured out why Roosevelt was so popular!

        The New Deal was never about welfare. It was about government jobs. Roosevelt hated the dole, so did Truman. They understood that it corrupted the soul. However, the modern Democrats are in love with welfare and the corruption that comes with it. So, Obama is reestablishing welfare.

        If a Republican Administration gets in in 2012-it will have to ramp up an emergency armaments program, which it can sell to the nation as a preparedness/jobs program.

        We are going to have to repair tactical air in a big way in four years. And we are going to be behind the eight ball in strategic bombing, too.

        We’re talking WWII levels of production, folks. Republican politicians need to get their act together now to prepare for this. Obama sure as heck won’t.

  • Old_Crow

    It will be interesting to see how O&M (operations and maintenance) funds end up. Some of the greatest damage from the Carter / Clinton era was due to cutbacks in maintenance. Duct tape and super glue can only go so far repairing aircraft. It does focus you a bit more on emergency procedures though since equipment breaks down so much more frequently.

    • vettepilot

      One of the other things that is related to the O&M funds you mention is troop readiness. One of the things that makes our Air Force as strong as it is is the amount of flight time our pilots log compared to their counterparts. Our National Guard/Reserve pilots log as much flight time as many front-line pilots in other global Air Forces. That flight time not only keeps their mind operating at the level needed for combat operations, it keeps their bodies accustomed to the rigors of hard flying.

      I suspect that with a cut in the operating budget will come a corresponding reduction in realistic training activities (flying the sim doesn’t cut it!), along with a drop in operational readiness…

  • http://www.RedState.com/ETCartman Kenny Solomon

    Oh, screw it……………..

    I’m wondering how long it will take (maybe after we’re attacked again) for this Marxist putz and his staff to get physically removed from office and tossed into a deep hole in the ground.

    The tipping point is getting closer…………..

    ………….and still the majority of people care more about American Idol.

    • IJB

      …I don’t think most people are going to “rally” around these guys, that’s for sure.

      I mean, yeah – the Kossite types will, but they don’t count.

      For everyone else, too much of a ‘paper trail’ has been established, even among mostly ignorant “centrist” voter types – closing Gitmo (and then talk of offering them U.S. welfare), cozying up to terrorist states, dropping “War on Terror” from the terminology, and now gutting the defense budget.

      If there’s an attack, these guys are taking the ‘fall’.

      And if there is a missile-based nuclear or WOMAD attack, and the anti-missile defense aren’t in effect because of all of this… yeah, these guys won’t survive 48 hours, I’d wager.

      • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

        After which Congress will authorize “temporary” emergency dictatorial powers which will become permanent.

        Assuming that we are stiil a sovereign nation at that point and not the world’s largest parking lot.

        • IJB

          First, I have a life-sized picture of most of the military complying with those kind of orders from this Admin., especially after an attack that their own policies facilitated.

          Second, even if they could could get a respectable chunk of the military to go along with it, the civil insurrection that would follow it would be massive and unstoppable.

          But I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion in the back of my mind that the Obama Dems are going easy on America’s enemies and terrorist opponents because they secretly want to bring about the kind of scenario you describe.

          Unfortunately for them, I doubt it will work out as planned.

          • Section9

            Please. This isn’t the Spotlight. It’s Redstate.

            Obama and the people around him are people of the Left. They actually believe that if you make American disarm, the world will be a safer place because America is too assertive in the world.

            They actually believe that if we Make Nice to Muslims, we won’t be attacked and a New Policy will address the Root Causes of Islamic Angst.

            It’s all a huge crock and a product of deeply narcissistic thinking, but you get the idea. They can’t cope with the concept of unrelenting evil. If relentless wickedness actually existed, then they would have to do something about it!

            And they can’t have that, can they?

        • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

          requires DHS to establish “Civilian Energency Centers” on military bases in each of the 6 FEMA regions. Things are getting very scary. I wonder if the zerO will allow any internet o nthe bases since he is due to take over teh Internet based on a Law co-sponsored by the traito Olympia Snowe. Make sure to thank Mike Steele when he funds her campaign.

  • NeoKong

    Has he asked Congress to take a pay cut?Would he himself take a pay cut just to set a good example while he raids the treasury.?
    We know the answer.
    What other bloated govt. agency will actually shrink besides defense spending.
    At least with defense spending we get something in return.
    We can give hundreds of billions away to silly “shovel ready” busy work projects just to give people temporary jobs but he wants to reduce the F-22 Raptor program that puts thousand of people to work and in return we get the most advanced jet in the world.

    Hmmm…let’s see.Some guy picking up trash with a stick or some guy building a jet to keep America safe.
    Which one is really more necessary?

    • redneck_hippie

      (or anything) on community organizers/ACORN to intimidate voters?

      • NeoKong

        That’s how you keep your job.

      • Section9

        …on ACORN and it’s friends.

        So Jimmy Hoffa can vote in the next election, for Good Democrats.

      • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

        I would not be shocked to see Acorn receive as much as these cuts in Federal Funds next year for their “Community Outreach” programs i.e. census, Digital TV, Save Our Homes Mortgage program and oh yeah, the GOTV campaign and the administration of the Obama youth camps…er Campuses.

  • merkurfan

    Reduce the number of support service contractors from our current 39% to 26% and replace them with as many as 30,000 full-time government employees.

    as a cut.. It’ll cost more, way more once the union gets done with it.

    • DONTREADONME

      is way more than the 30,000 full time government employees that will replace them, and as a Government contractor I can tell you, you will get 10 times less out of those 30,000 for twice the price. Seems like I am wrong you are right this is an increase. Looks like Obama’s job saving scheme is working great!

  • indyrepublicratarian

    anything new?

    They way I understand it, Sec. Gates is saying that we are cutting weaponry, systems and programs that may not fit the dynamic of today’s type of warfare.

    So the obvious question is; what weaponry, systems and programs are replacing the outdated stuff?

    I’ll give Sec. Gates the benefit of the doubt that he would push back to Obama if he knew something that would be eliminated would put the U.S. at risk of not maintaining its military might over the rest of the world.

    • IJB
  • http://www.theotherworsham.blogspot.com toddworsham

    I disagree with many of the cuts listed in the post, and I’m not surprised, they are the “big” cuts. I think missile defense is essential and that developing more advanced weapons will lead to less American causalities in future conflicts.

    However, I do think that it is a little disingenuous to believe that any cut in the defense budget will make America less safe. Not that anyone really implied that, but I am just saying with the way any government works there has to be fat to trim in every area, not just social programs. I don?t claim to know what these cuts may be, but maybe that plane/helicopter thing that was in the transformer movie? From what I’ve read its performance has been shaky at best.

    It needs to be kept in mind that as conservatives we need to be against any and all government waste. We shouldn?t have sacred cows like the libs, if there are ways to responsibly cut spending in the realm defense it should be done.

    Obama?s cuts in my opinion will make America less safe. With Hezbollah in Central American and moving north, Obama bending over and grabbing his ankles all over the globe, Hillary?s “smart” (LOL) power, and the rest of the shenanigans currently passing as responsible behavior, it really is only a matter of time.

    Ever since Obama was elected I have told people in conversation that all this economic nonsense will be forgotten very quickly when Obama gets a real test. He will have a crisis to deal with, whether it?s a Cuban missile like crisis with Venezuela, a domestic terrorist attack, or something else on the international scene, he will be tested, just ask Joe bidden. Unfortunately when that test comes, his defense cuts plus his inexperience could be a dangerous combo for America.

  • izoneguy

    I know the background is blue….I am working on it…..

    • $peciallist

      after you’re done, we’ll put Erick’s face on it…

  • char

    Until the ABL seems like an obviously good idea?

    Imagine a world where in 2-6 hours you could have the ability in place to shoot down any ballistic missiles.

    For crying out loud if Obama wonders why N Korea, Iran, and Syria don’t take him seriously then perhaps he should look at what kind of message these cuts send to these regimes. These nations couldn’t care less about Obama’s words, only his actions matter. Here’s a big green light to them to do whatever they want.

    • Achance
      • IJB
    • SteveLA

      The technology works great but the first ABL complete system cost $1.1 Billion and it would take a fleet of say half a dozen to keep on standby alert.

      Ship based interceptors, Aegis I think it is, and land based at Ft. Wainwright (?) up in Alaska are coming on line now. I’m not sure if Gates was right or not to cut this one, but his rational is probably based on cost and the other two systems.

      • Achance
      • DONTREADONME

        Is the most ignorant move, we will abandon this and guaranteed other countries will take it up. The only way to have the advantage in a MAD world is to prevent the mutual part.

        • SteveLA

          DONTREADONME

          The funding be cut is for a second aircraft and systems, the first aircraft is still in test.

          I’m not sure that you could call it abandoning DE work, maybe just not moving down the road to a fleet that could be deployed. I tend to trust Gates and the Service Chiefs who signed off on the list. It’s a dollar and cents decision I think.

          • DONTREADONME

            The new Airborne Tactical Laser ATL, which is significant improvement to the beast which is the ABL both I believe are Boeing SVS programs. I do not necessary agree with all of Gates decisions nor do I completely agree with the decisions of the brass as well. I believe the President has set his agenda forward and Gates is carrying it out, which of course is the way it is supposed to be I guess, but I will kick and scream the whole way. Also, saving money on defense while spending out of control on domestic programs is what I have a problem with. DE is going the way of the dinosaur, FEL, THEL, HEL, ADS, ATL, ABL and all directed energy programs are as good as gone. With the expiration of the DDX so goes the FEL, High Energy Lasers, and the Rail Gun. Going with the XF-33 over the F-22 is insanity and the killing of the long range bombers is short sighted. CG-X, DDG-1000, TSAT and the aircraft carrier fleet to 10 by 2040 along with the next generation aircraft carriers is dumbfounding. Hiring Gov employees to replace support contractors is short sighted at best and remember you can not fire the 30,000 new employees when the GWOMCD is over. Only things in that list I can not disagree with is the FCS, new presidential helicopter.

          • DONTREADONME

            why you would go with Gates and the General’s judgement over mine. No question, I am not in charge and do not have the daily briefings.

            For reference on my jumpy nature on this subject, I just have my job at stake; one which I have put significant time and effort into to build considerable credibility with the DoD. So, I do get a little defensive on the defense subject when Obama starts talking about cutting defense contractors like we are wasteful spending and welfare is where money would be better spent. Anyway, hope that gives you some perspective on my edge with the defense cuts.

  • $peciallist
  • robmikpet

    I wish I was worng. I wish people called me an alarminst I was so worng. I dont care what they would say as long as the nation stayed strong.

    • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

      I was also trying to get the Defense Cuts issue addressed way ahead of giving the Democrats an opportunity to do so…. preemptive attempt at covering the inevitable and History Repeating with every Democrat administration… Americans have a hard time at learning from History. Defense Cuts and the Democrat Surrender First Doctrine… what was your link??? I’d like to visit it!

      • robmikpet

        as well, I am in constant fights at DOD Buzz, Ares Defense Technology Blog, Danger Room and DefenseTech.org. as Bobbymike (my moniker on those sites)

        • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

          I was expecting you to provide the link to your Diary, as I did mine, so that I and others could be lazy…. I mean, if you want us to visit it ;-)

        • DONTREADONME

          was talked about at http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/dont-lase-me-br.html. Completely WRONG.

    • DONTREADONME

      I have read your diary as well as others. Yours has been the most specialized to it, and I have noticed. I am a defense contractor in engineering support for acquisitions and I have been dreading everyday because I knew this was coming on November 5th, I just stuck my head in the sand and hoped it would not affect me, but there is a 33% chance I will be hitting the unemployment line in September. I was hoping there would be some chance of me returning back to the private R&D military endeavors but even that is not safe anymore. So what is a guy to do with all of this expertise, I can not exactly build bridges with my experience. Guess I will have to go work for the cable company or become an electrician or maybe work on solar arrays for power.

      • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

        That joke was NOT funny… it was NOT meant to be… it was making a point!

        I know I wouldn’t have to spell that out for my fellow RedStater regulars and fellow Conservatives… but put it for the benefit of the Trolls/Mobies – as if they’d get it now even after the hint!

        • DONTREADONME

          something to that effect but for me I can not even joke about that. You know why, something I signed that says 10 years in prison or 250,000 dollar fines.

          • robmikpet

            n/t

          • http://jeffemanuel.net Jeff Emanuel

            http://www.redstate.com/robmikpet/

          • DONTREADONME

            http://www.redstate.com/robmikpet/

            or more specifically
            http://www.redstate.com/robmikpet/2009/03/30/the-weakening-of-the-united-states-continues/

  • robmikpet

    especially when someone does it for me…..wait feeling a little liberal, like when people do things for me, want my mortgage paid, fill my gas tank, getting dizzy.

    Just kidding thanks Mr. Enamual and DONTREADONME!!

  • JoeG

    to not violate the profanity ban. That’s all that comes to mind right now.

    Can Texas secede and pick up these programs?

  • passerby25

    I just hope that he can make some long term cuts (after the recession is over), and balance the budget, which most projections I have heard don’t seem to do much in that aspect.

    But yah, Some defense things need to be cut. Good for him.

    • robmikpet

      for all government spending you might find some support for your comment here at Redstate. But when the ONLY cuts are coming to the ONE department that is one of the most important if not the most important function of the federal government then your statement is nonsensical.

      When Washington is spending money like they are on seemingly every program BUT DEFENSE then it can only be seen for what it is AN ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN THIS NATION.

      The budget deficit this year will be around 3 TIMES the entire defense budget. Defense spending is not the problem. We are spending less as percentage of GDP then Jimmy Carter did!!

      • passerby25

        It still doesen’t change the fact that we spend almost 10 times more on our military then any other nation. There is no other nation that can come close to our military capabilities, so it seems ridiculous to think that we still need 600 billion dollars to spend on Defense every year (not counting the separate outlays for the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan).

        We need domestic spending, since we are in a Recession (whether it is being spend efficiently is another question altogether). I was just expressing hope that he will be able to cut back on it once we exit the recession.

        • robmikpet

          The $787 billion stimulas not enough for you? Second question, who do you think builds the weapon systems the soldiers use, highly educated AMERICANS.

          Why do people who call for defense cuts SIMPLY NOT KNOW THE FACTS!!

          We spend less of our national wealth on defense than Jimmy Carter spent. Non-defense spending HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER. Please get some knowledge before posting.

          • passerby25

            increased from what it was. Although, I wouldn’t have a problem with it being increased some more, I’d much rather them go all out, rather then go half-assed on an economic recovery plan.

            And by domestic spending, I mean building roads, bridges, damns, ect. Welfare and whatnot is a whole different story.

            And while I understand that we need people to build weapons, they (the weapons) really don’t add anything to the economy in the long run.

          • DONTREADONME

            but the technology used in weapons, lead the cutting edge in technology. The military gets the best technology before going commercial. I.e. thermal sensors, internet, satellite, aircraft, space programs, robotics, non-lethal weapons, lasers. Need I go on.

          • robmikpet

            Domestic spending has never been higher and passerby say “I would like to see more spending”

            Well let’s spend $30 trillion, $100 trillion. Give everyone a million bucks, unfortunately, a loaf of bread will cost $50,000!

          • passerby25

            rather then the military.
            And with regard to domestic spending being higher then ever, most of that spending is probably due to welfare, Social Security, and medicare cost, which, like I said, is a different issue then what I am talking about (Which is updating infrastructure, investing in new Technology, updating electrical grids, roads, bridges, computer systems, ect.). Plus, we aren’t in the cold war anymore, there is no reason we need 700 billion+ in defense spending.

          • DONTREADONME
          • Aaron Gardner

            do we really have to entertain this youngster while he is on spring break.

            This may sound like me being a jerk but shouldn’t participants on this site at least be old enough to vote?

        • robmikpet

          The $787 billion stimulas not enough for you? Second question, who do you think builds the weapon systems the soldiers use, highly educated AMERICANS.

          Why do people who call for defense cuts SIMPLY NOT KNOW THE FACTS!!

          We spend less of our national wealth on defense than Jimmy Carter spent. Non-defense spending HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER. Please get some knowledge before posting.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      This site is not here for you to cheerlead for The One.

      Is that clear?

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    Lou Dobbs (the only thing worth seeing on CNN) covered cuts to additional/new Armored Vehicles…. after the Democrats spent years blaming Bush for not having sufficient Armor (Vehicle wise or Body wise) for the last 8 years that was, of course, the fault of Defense Cuts under Clinton (how every Democrat admin repeats the failure of history) that left us having to “go to war with the Army we had” (Rummy ref) over the one we would have preferred and probably had if Democrats hadn’t slashed Defense before!!!

  • djemi

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512970,00.html

    • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

      with the open thread I just threw up, don’t you think? If I had waited just a bit longer, I could have thrown that link here instead of creating a diary.