As reported by Reuters, the Obama administration plans on cutting 10-15% of the nation's ground forces. Supposedly, this will represent a slowing in the growth of the defense budget. Why it doesn't represent a decline in spending is not clear, but it seems that the Marine Corps and Army will be the biggest losers in this scenario. Politico is reporting that getting control of military health care, pay and retirements will also be on the agenda. Retired pay is particularly difficult, because retirees are scattered throughout the country, are often successful people with the means to donate to political campaign and are networked through a number of veteran's organizations.
I would expect the President to discuss defense budgeting and strategy in the State of the Union address. Prior SOTU's have not had much focus on those subjects. Based on the initial leaked reports it looks like the Navy and Air Force face fewer force reductions.
I am torn on the defense issue. The potential for mischief by dictators throughout the world remains high. A win-spoil strategy seems risky, and would seem to invite mischief. However, defense spending can't be a sacred cow any more than any other kind of spending in order for us to get our fiscal house in order.
This is a bow to the peace movement. The money will we spent elsewhere on entitlements and the world will be less safe with a weaker America.
ReplyDeleteI hate peace. Let's talk about Peace. How would the world find peace? What is peace? What about the people who are oppressed and enslaved, what is peace worth to them?
Peace is a fallacy, it is only achieved when everyone who disagrees is dead or enslaved. Peace is genocide, domination and totalitarian. A Peace symbol is a swastika in fact.
We have seen peace in Western Europe for multiple generations. Peace is a boon to mankind, but not at the price of injustice and tyranny. However, peace, justice and liberty will be the norm when the world's nations are capitalist democracies.
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