Posted on 07/02/2010 7:54:04 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
As Congress begins consideration of the FY 2011 Defense Appropriations bill, the US Project On Government Oversight (POGO) hopes that they will support the Pentagon and President by passing such waste-reduction initiatives as an amendment to strip funding for unneeded C-17 cargo planes.
The Pentagon has repeatedly stated that they have no use for new C-17 aircraft, and that their current fleet is substantial and sufficient. This claim is confirmed by the Pentagon's most recent completed analysis for air transport needs, the 2005 Mobility Capability Study, which stated that 180 C-17s are all that are necessary within an acceptable measure of risk. [In late 2009, US House of Representatives has passed a $636.4 billion defence spending bill which also funds the procurement of additional C-17s bringing the total fleet of 223 aircraft. This increases the original 2007 planning of Congress by 43 C-17s Ed.].
However, when it comes to the C-17 program, Congress has earmarked with reckless abandon. In 2007, the conference committee more than tripled the number of additional C-17s requested by House and Senate authorizers and appropriators. In 2009 Congress continued to fund the production of C-17s with a $2.5 billion appropriation, despite the strong objection by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Obama.
Ashton Carter, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, stated earlier this week that delivering better value to the taxpayer and improving the way the Department does business is an important priority. Purchasing more planes that the United States do not need is by no means better value for the taxpayer, especially in the current economic climate.
(Excerpt) Read more at defpro.com ...
It’s not that they don’t want more C-17s, it’s that there are other things they want more. They should have both. There would be plenty of money for it, if Congress and the Administration weren’t spending to put drunken sailors to shame, on things not made the responsibility of the federal government by the Constitution
I agree
Not so fast there, Bubba. I'm pretty sure the next president is going to need a whole lot more carrying capacity for the 30 million illegals we'll be drop-shipping to Mexico.
C-17 Cargo Plane
Well this POGO group seems to be pretty far left. There Board consists of NYT journalists, a contributor to Nation magazine and a few Democrat underlings. Not sure that’s the best group to render a verdict on military hardware.
I agree
Because, I suppose, if the situation is so bad you can't fix it with 180 C-17s, just send a B-52 with a nuke.
/johnny
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