Posted on 04/05/2009 1:52:31 PM PDT by Schnucki
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, will on Monday offer proposals to slash spending on major military projects in what aides called a "fundamental shift in direction".
Mr Gates, who spent the weekend finalising his budget plans for 2010, is expected to take aim at several major weapons conventional warfare programmes, in favour of spending on technologies more useful to the "asymmetrical" wars that US forces are embroiled in.
After eight years in which the defence budget doubled, and with the economy in deep recession, Mr Gates is targeting systems that have gone way over both budget and schedule.
The proposals are however subject to approval by Congress and will face opposition from Republican senators arguing that cutting military hardware development will hit American workers hardest.
Projects likely to be scaled back or scrapped include the army's $150 billion Future Combat Systems, which would combine manned and unmanned ground vehicles and aerial drones acting in sync. Field tests began last year but the system's hi-tech communications have been beset by difficulties.
Mr Gates has signalled that the air force's demands for more F-22 stealth fighter jets are unlikely to be granted, pointing out that highly regarded plane "has not performed a single mission in either theatre" of Afghanistan or Iraq.
He is also considering cutting one of the navy's 11 aircraft carriers and a new $20 billion satellite programme that would fill any gaps in current coverage of the globe's surface. With almost every major project under review, President Barack Obama has even suggested that the upgrading of his Marine One helicopter fleet could be delayed.
"These are not changes to the margins. This is a fundamental shift in direction," said the Pentagon press secretary, Geoff Morrell.
Mr Gates's plans would still increase the Pentagon's regular budget by four per
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I am surprised it took this long for the Obama admin to put this out there. This is Jimmy Carter admin all over again.
Socialism/communism coming at us like a freight train.
I don’t have much of a problem w/ that....I’m sure there is a LOT of wasteful spending @ the Pentagon. I just wish that the $ would be used to help pay off the national debt or be given back to the taxpayers rather than being shifted to other liberal causes.
That explains the partying going in in numerous caves in Afghanistan and Pakistan...
Liberals have neither the ability, nor desire, to either understand, relate to, or support the US military, even when they've been in it [Carter]. For a socialist/Fascist street hustler like Il Douche, it's even worse. Lord, help us in the world. Our leadership won't.
Socialism/communism coming at us like a freight train.”
what kind of communism? The Soviet and N. Korean styles certainly never involved “cuts in military spending”. Quite the opposite.
Fortunately, all those high paided aviation workers have a fall back. There are plenty of shovels and wheelbarrels available and lotsa pot holes to fill.
We need 20.
Once he rids us of high tech, high effectiveness, and force multiplier weapons, then it won’t be asymmetrical warfare anymore. It will be our shooters vs their shooters, and we know that they are willing to sustain much higher casualties than we are.
And, I suspect, the Chicoms are cutting way back on their spending too/sarc.
Like we didn’t know this was coming.
The message to despots: America is about to disarm and bend over, so have a go at her!
Generals always fight the last war. High tech force multipliers like the F-22 will be essential when we face a real nation with real technology, such as China. More important, they may make it unnecessary for us to fight a real nation, like China.
The Kenyan cur intends to destroy our military.
Definitely a repeat of clintoonian era that produced 911. To be expected with the same rehash of clintoons running the country.
The same thing happened when The Peanut Man took over and cut way back on the military and defense spending. Many civilian defense programs were cut way back and our military was decimated. We were in a dangerous situation.
Then Reagan came in and built back our Defense programs. It cost a lot of money an the deficit shot up but it was necessary and it ultimately led to the defeat of the Ruskies in the Cold War.
Funny how liberals are so compassionate up until the point that spending a few dollars on a robotic vehicle saves some poor private from crawling into a cave to knock on Osama's door.
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