Obama admin. plans defense cuts that nearly top GOP’s entire first-year austerity pledge

[kpete]

Obama admin. plans defense cuts that nearly top GOP’s entire first-year austerity pledge

By David Edwards
Thursday, January 6th, 2011 -- 3:55 pm


Defense Secretary Robert Gates surprised lawmakers Thursday by announcing that the Pentagon would cut spending by $78 billion over the next five years.

The cuts will force the Army and Marine Corps to reduce the number of troops on active duty and eventually freeze military spending for the first time since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.


The $78 billion comes in addition to $100 billion in cuts that Gates directed the Pentagon to find in May. In a Thursday news conference, the defense secretary said that the armed forces had successfully found $100 billion in savings over the next five years and the Army, Navy and Air Force would get to reallocate that money to combat-related projects.

.......................

The savings nearly equal the $100 billion in spending cuts promised by Republicans this year. However, GOP sources told The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman that the real goal is to cut about $30 billion.

more:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/obamas-oneday-defense-cuts-top-gops-entire-firstyear-austerity-pledge/
http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/defense-homeland-security/136401-gates-surprises-lawmakers-with-plan-to-cut-78-billion-from-defense

[Uzybone]

1. once the lobbyists give their orders to the House

I doubt this will pass.

[elleng]

3. 'Pass' what?

Doesn't require legislation, does it???

[Uzybone]

4. I mean whatever Obama and Gates cut will be reversed by the Housee

I hope I'm wrong.

[elleng]

9. Don't know they can do that;; hope not!

[BeFree]

7. Pentagon is spoiled rotten rich kids

Congress throws money at them time after time.
They actually have to work hard to find ways to spend the $$ put on their table.
Remember the $600 Reagan hammers?

[okieinpain]

2. he should put tinker air force base at the top of the list. okies hate

the federal government and could really do without all of that government money following into businesses and school districts.

[SaveAmerica]

5. Pull back on money going to contractors in the Middle East

[DCKit]

6. Then they'll replace all those goods and services with private contractors...

and we'll be paying 6x as much.

It's win/win for the MICC.

[stevenleser]

12. It doesnt work that way. n/t

[secondwind]

8. The Pentagon spends a billion a year on public relations....that's a hefty sum...

maybe they can slash that budget as well!

[Clio the Leo]

10. Takes the wind out of the sails of both ends of the political spectrum..

.... smart man that Obama.

[mike_c]

11. I disagree-- the pentagon's budget isn't being cut at all-- this is smoke and mirrors....

Instead, the military is rearranging the deck chairs so that they can reallocate those "savings" to combat, prolonging America's immoral wars of aggression. When guns are cut so that we can afford butter, that will be something to cheer. The Pentagon's announcement that it would squeeze a bit more efficiency from its operations in order to afford more bombs is nothing to cheer at all, IMO.

[stevenleser]

13. Proof? Links? Thanks

[impik]

14. Proofs? Links? Are you kidding me? No need for any of this in la-la-land. They set their

own reality. Take it or leave it.

[stevenleser]

15. That was my guess too, but, if they can show me proof, my mind is open to other possibilities

as unlikely as I think they may be.

[GSLevel9]

16. oh there's PLENTY of fat on the MIC to shave a few BILLION. nt