At some point we need to cut spending, because it’s healthier, economically, to have a balanced budget. But what do we cut?
A panel commissioned by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is recommending nearly $1 trillion in cuts to the Pentagon’s budget during the next 10 years.
The Sustainable Defense Task Force, a commission of scholars from a broad ideological spectrum appointed by Frank, the House Financial Services Committee chairman, laid out actions the government could take that could save as much as $960 billion between 2011 and 2020.
Measures presented by the task force include making significant reductions to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which has strong support from Defense Secretary Robert Gates; delaying the procurement of a new midair refueling tanker the Air Force has identified as one of its top acquisition priorities; and reducing the Navy’s fleet to 230 ships instead of the 313 eyed by the service.
Shipbuilding has strong support in the congressional defense committees, which write the Pentagon bills. Efforts to reduce the number of ships would run into resistance from the Pentagon and the shipbuilding lobby.
Frank on Friday warned that if he can’t convince Congress to act in the “general direction” of the task force recommendation, “then every other issue will suffer.” Not cutting the Pentagon’s budget could lead to higher taxes and spending cuts detrimental to the environment, housing and highway construction.
The acceptance of the recommendations would depend on a “philosophical change" and a “redefinition of the strategy,” Frank said at press conference on Capitol Hill.
He said the creation of the deficit reduction commission offers the best opportunity for the reduction recommendations. Frank wants to convince his colleagues to write to the deficit reduction commission and warn that they would not approve any of the plans suggested by the commission unless reduction of military spending is included… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Common Dreams>
I believe that it is imperative that the US maintain a strong defensive capability, but we’re fielding the wrong mix. The military-industrial complex is in love with big, costly 20th century weapons systems that do not fill the requirements of 21st century conflicts. What good is an Ohio Class boat (shown above) against a dirty bomb delivered by suitcase?
I don’t think Franks will be successful, because of the way defense contractors have embedded themselves. The components of every major weapons system are produced by subcontractors scattered all over the country. Virtually no Senators or Representatives can vote to defund any weapons system without voting to put some of their own constituents out of work. That’s the least efficient way to do it. All the manufacturing for a weapons system should be done on one locality. Can you imaging the extra cost and fuel we waste shipping parts all over the country.
There are also other things we could do. One thing is increase the size of our armed forces and have out troops do the jobs contractors are doing now. Why should the taxpayers pay KBR over $150,000 per year for a kitchen worker to peel potatoes, when a private can do it better for a fraction of that cost. Also, that private is a trained soldier if the need arises. And you can bet our troops won’t be electrocuted in showers built by Seabees.
One more thing. We could save a bunch by bringing our troops home from Afghanistan.
7 Responses to “Panel Says Cut Defense”
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I’m all for military slashing of the horror film variety, but I’m also for the Browns winning the Super Bowl, another unlikely scenario.
Randal, you Teabugger!! 😉
The Browns?!!? Surely you jest!! 🙂
TC
You touched on a few great ways to cut the Military budget. Duplications of services is another. Close bases around the world. Re-instate the draft with no deferments for the wealthy. That would stop the Wars. The most important thing we can do is to never elect a Conservative for higher office.
Randal, I’m getting worried, I’m starting to understand you. 😉
Good idea, Tim. But on the draft, wealthy people and family of highly placed politicians should be first in line for combat duty. Those who receive most of our society’s benefits should bear its heaviest burdens.
Frank had a whole list of things he wanted to cut – see them on Huff Po. If you want to cut the budget, then ALL of the budget must be included, especially the bloated military with their contractors. We don’t need troops in Europe and Japan (at least not as many as are there) and if we do, those countries should pay for those troops to be there. Think of all the troops we could free up for national disasters like the Gusher in the Gulf. When $.53 of every dollar we send to the Treasury goes to Defense, we are spending WAY too much – some estimates say we are spending up to 10 times the next country below us. Bring it on Barney!
I like how he said basically, ‘Fuck it, I forming my own committee to focus on military cuts.’ Remember when we were closing all those bases in the US and people were freaking out? Guess what, those people either moved to other bases or retired. No BFD. Do we really need an Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL out where god lost his sandals? In IL? It got cut and everyone just moved on.
Like I said, Lisa. We’re stuck in a 20th century mindset. The cold war is over.