Obama OKs JFCOM closure; new cuts imperil 160 more jobs

[nadinbrzezinski]

Source: The Virginia Pilot

By Bill Bartel
Corinne Reilly
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 6, 2011
Hampton Roads stands to lose at least another 160 jobs as part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ plan to overhaul defense spending.

The details of Gates’ plan, announced Thursday, raised red flags among some area leaders and regional advocates, who argued that Gates didn’t offer enough specifics about how the cutbacks would save money or improve national defense.

Gates said he plans to decommission the Navy’s Norfolk-based Second Fleet, turning over control of its ships and operations to Fleet Forces Command. Both are headquartered at Norfolk Naval Station. President Barack Obama also approved Thursday night an earlier plan to shut down the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk and Suffolk.

None of the more than 120 ships will leave Norfolk, Gates said during a Pentagon news conference, but about 160 military positions could be eliminated.

Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/01/obama-oks-jfcom-closure-new-cuts-imperil-160-more-jobs

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I can hear a few screams from Republicans right about NOW.

[boppers]

1. More middleman jobs.

A huge part of our defense costs aren't soldiers, airmen, seamen, marines, (etc.), they're bureaucrats.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. And contractors, don't forget those

half the force in Afghanistan are not officially in uniform. they work for outfits such as Xe, and Dyncorp... we used to call them MERCENARIES. Oh and at one time we considered them SCUM.

[boppers]

4. As a former one of those scum contractors, let me say this:

Not all contractors are automatically scum. The work I did required 16-20 years of training, and is damn near impossible to train *for*, unless you have very specific skills and traits... by the time you got good at it, it would be timer to retire.

Running around with a gun looking like a bad-ass, not so much.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Well as a former humanitarian worker

you might understand why I don't like them.

Mostly tend to lengthen conflicts.

[boppers]

10. I thank you and honor you for your service.

Ever wonder what the world would be like if we gave our humanitarian and NGO people the same benefits as we do for our military?


I sure do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. A better place

but in the real world... we do what we can.

[ismnotwasm]

6. That's true

When my daughter was stationed there she was telling me about it. I remember thinking WTF(this was during the prior administration)and we're spending HOW much over there?

War; the big black hole in the human soul we pour money into.

[RedCloud]

3. Serves 'em right for voting for that car dealer repuppetagain Rigell

[Mark Maker]

5. Senator Jim Webb(D) can kiss his ass goodbye in '12.

He touted his connections as a former Secretary of the Navy to keep military jobs in his state, and he barely squeaked by the repuke.

I'm sure it's for the best though.

[timo]

7. dont forget

chicago based triple canopy

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. By the way forgot to mention this

this is not a minor thing. Imperial retrenchment has begun. If you are cutting this... well hate to point this out, it means we are going to bring the troops home... and joint operations are really NOT that needed.

[Arctic Dave]

12. Good. 160 less parasites destroying the country.

[bloomington-lib]

13. Why not cut out some of the useless foriegn bases first?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. IMHO this is a marker that bringing troops home

is coming...

This command is essential for join operations abroad.

They also have announced that the number of troops are going to be cut down, and Gates has announced a full fat cutting review.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Oh and here is more of that

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x129931

Been keeping tabs on markers, and this is a biggie in my view.

[SaveAmerica]

16. Thanks for your thoughts, would like to keep in touch with you about this

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Sure, no problem.