Posted on 08/09/2010 9:36:32 AM PDT by Doogle
WASHINGTON -- Officials briefed on the decision say Defense Secretary Robert Gates plans to eliminate a major military command in Norfolk, Va., and try to cut the Pentagon's use of outside contractors by 10 percent next year.
The plan was to be announced at a Pentagon press conference on Monday. It is part of a broader effort to trim $100 billion from the military's mammoth budget in the next five years, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan begin to wind down and Congress turns its attention more to domestic priorities.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
We ought to throw both of them out of the Senate.
What a bunch we have in the WH. They had better start contracting for renovations of multiple emergency exit doors!
The fascist restructuring of our military has begun.
The predicted fascist purges have begun.
Priorities people, Marsh mice first. /s
Of course, you are correct. But, most here view the military as a legitimate govt. endeavor and the handrwiting is on the wall - they will spend on anything that is illegitimate and kill off all that is legitimate, e.g. courts, harbors, roads, etc.
Closing the base will mean not just re-assigning the personnel but thousands of civilian jobs will be lost in the community. DUMB move with 10% unemployment average.
That said, where else will you find the people with the kind of experience needed to become the upper management in the DOD. More troubling is the signal that they will cut GS and Contractors. Not mentioned is that they also intend to cut troop strengths as well. Which is why they can get rid of some Flag Officers. I can tell you from experience that when they cut personnel levels, they use contractors to fill the void. If they get rid of contractors, GS employees and service members who will fill the gaps and keep the military feed, trained and combat ready? In the 80’s when Reagan began his cuts (1985) contractors filled many jobs from high tech to grunt work. I have worked all sides of the equation, I have been a contractor, member and civilian employee.
We need the better guided stand-off shoulder launched missiles because while RPG’s are effective some of our (future) enemies have more advanced weaponry then the Afghanistan fighters.
I, of course, understand that point of view. It reminds me of a quote by writer, P. J. O’Rourke in an article a couple of decades ago. He was writing admiringly about his recent visit to the latest battleship of the US Navy. Describing the capabilities of the ship, he wrote, “Now that’s the way to waste government money.”
ours knock and present a Miranda warning before exploding..
While it seems a case can be made to get rid of this, I think it is more a Obama smackdown of McDonnell/Cuccinelli. Purely based on timing alone. Va may have voted for Zero but we came back to our senses and voted R for Gov, Lt. Gov and AG. Then the AG filed a suit to nullify Obamacare. So this is tit for tat with Zero smacking McDonnell/Cucinelli.
It is curious to me why Kaine/Webb/Warner have been pretty useless in fighting to retain the base. Who the hell are they working for anyway? (That’s just a rhetorical question)
Yes, I always thought of it as a great way to retire in the Hampton Roads area. Personally, that was my best location in terms of enjoying myself. In terms of training to fight wars, Korea or Fort Bragg would have been the best I think.
At first glance, this cut does not bother me. Joint forces command? Sounds like a redundant command and control agency in the military. Something there is far too much of and something that needs the axe...
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