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Pentagon to cut spending by $78 billion, reduce troop strength
The Washington Post ^ | January 6, 2011 | Craig Whitlock

Posted on 01/06/2011 12:04:47 PM PST by ConjunctionJunction

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To: LUV W
Four of the five top stories in the sidebar are about explosions around the country and they want to cut troop strength. Makes NO sense...but nothing that this administration does makes sense! It does if you realize the party in power does not like this country.
81 posted on 01/06/2011 3:03:03 PM PST by ColdOne
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To: ConjunctionJunction

How about, we go back to the days before DADT? That’s 2 birds, one stone!


82 posted on 01/06/2011 3:12:23 PM PST by panthermom
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To: Captain Kirk

We can’t afford to pay for million upon millions of illegals from cradle to grave but we do!

Let’s get rid of the illegals who are sucking every single one of us dry, who are destroying our cities/towns, hospitals, and schools and then we can discuss the military.


83 posted on 01/06/2011 3:18:16 PM PST by panthermom
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To: ColdOne
It does if you realize the party in power does not like this country.

Very true!

84 posted on 01/06/2011 3:21:03 PM PST by luvie (Thank God)
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To: ConjunctionJunction

OK! Let’s get out of Afghanistan right now. If can’t afford enough troops, we can afford the War.


85 posted on 01/06/2011 3:50:29 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: ConjunctionJunction

It is the beginning of the end of once Mighty American Empire. Now I wonder how the Arabs and the Chinese will attempt to fill the power vaccum? Perhaps we’ll witness the second edition of the “Great Game” in Africa.


86 posted on 01/06/2011 4:02:54 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: US Navy Vet

AMEN!!! E-9 has got to be the most useless rank in the military.


87 posted on 01/06/2011 4:45:11 PM PST by rustyboots
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To: MinorityRepublican

Don’t forget about the Russians. They are really moving in in the middle east.


88 posted on 01/06/2011 4:57:23 PM PST by ConjunctionJunction
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To: Marty62

the military costs more than the whole non-defense discretionary budget


89 posted on 01/06/2011 5:19:32 PM PST by ChurtleDawg (voting only encourages them)
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To: ConjunctionJunction
Don’t forget about the Russians. They are really moving in in the middle east.

Good, they can have it.

90 posted on 01/06/2011 5:26:56 PM PST by triumphant values (Never criticize that to your right.)
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To: triumphant values

Don’t forget about the Russians. They are really moving in in the middle east.

Good, they can have it.


x2. Those idiots went broke doing that in the 80s. Not that we seem to have learned much.


91 posted on 01/06/2011 6:22:31 PM PST by Longdriver
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To: americanophile

As a Navy Veteran, and a strong supporter of a strong military, I am for cutting costs in our defense spending. Now, before I get flamed, let me put out a few points...

1)My son is currently a paratrooper in the US Army. I want him to be fully supported when he gets deployed, but I want his deployment to be for America’s security, and not to be the Worlds/UN’s policeman.

2)When I was in the Navy, we were under what I think was the Graham-Ruggman Act, which was suppose to reign in spending, but it only excellerated it. Each division was to submit it’s requests for new equipment each year. If the amount you request was more then the previous year, then you would either have to go through a lot of hoops or get denied, so divisions always ordered up to the max amount that they could so that they could maintain their spending. What that meant every year I was on board my sub, was excess tools getting “lost” and excess equipment (vacuum cleaners, dishes, etc.) getting chucked overboard to make room for the new equipment.

The military, like any other government entity has places that costs can be cut. What I think should be done, is trust the local commanders to cut what they think isn’t needed, without threat that they can’t get those things back when they need them (ie, no more Graham-Ruggman shiite).

I think we could bring home many of our troops from overseas and close alot of overseas bases. I think our southern border could be better maintained with those troops.

I don’t know if we really need to continue with the carrier battle group mentality. Like someone else posted, that kind of war at sea like in WWII isn’t going to happen again anytime soon.

I have read somewhere that our military is extremely top heavy. I don’t remember where I read it, but we have nearly the same number of officers today as we did when we fought WWII, yet our overall force is much, much smaller.

A few side notes: my son said just recently that of the 200 soldiers up for re-inlistment in his unit, only about 30 will be able to reup. That doesn’t make sense to me when we are increasing our current “boots on the ground” role in Afghanistan.

It also doesn’t jive with the dems big whine on Bush’s move to go into Iraq with “too few troops” mantra. If they really think we need more troops, then don’t restrict the “boots on the ground” from reuping. This also goes along with the Dems cries for reinstituting the draft. That’s crazy. We don’t need a draft, but maybe the Dems want one for their own nefarious reasons.


92 posted on 01/06/2011 6:41:41 PM PST by ScubieNuc
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To: ConjunctionJunction; All

Well, the next Republican President will have his/her hands full, that’s for sure.

Look for another huge attack in America’s Backyard come 2012-13.

And of COURSE there are areas of the military that could be cut! Bring all of our troops home from Europe and Asia for starters. And then, between attrition and being really strict on who we TAXPAYERS ‘hire’ to serve in the military, we could come in under budget and stay at full strength.

It ain’t Rocket Science! Hell, none of balancing our Nation’s budget is Rocket Science! I’ve been running a lean and mean operation on my farm for decades now.

Ask me anything, Washington; I’m here to help! :)


93 posted on 01/06/2011 6:44:09 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: ConjunctionJunction

Just say NO. Tell Obama and the budget cutters that it w=ould take at least $78 billion to integrate LBGT into the regular military. That should do ity.


94 posted on 01/06/2011 6:45:51 PM PST by Ben Reyes (Palin for President 2012)
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To: ChurtleDawg

According to Gates the Pentagon has been rolling in dough since 911. How long has Gates been around. He couldn’t cut his budget before now. Typical Washington type.


95 posted on 01/06/2011 6:53:06 PM PST by Marty62 (Marty 60)
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To: ScubieNuc
This incremental budgeting system of ours maximizes inefficiency. The Pentagon, like every other government agency, needs to be put on a zero-based budget and let's spend only what we really need. If we have to move to a two-year budget cycle to facilitate it, then fine, but the kind of approach we have now, and which you've illustrated, is beyond wasteful.
96 posted on 01/06/2011 6:55:19 PM PST by americanophile
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To: ConjunctionJunction

Now if we can get the White House to match it by cutting $78 billion from Obama’s vacation budget.


97 posted on 01/06/2011 7:05:40 PM PST by Hoodat (Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - (Rom 8:37))
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To: ConjunctionJunction

If congress would dismiss the failing flop that Jimmy Carter began in 1979 that serves no purpose other than wasting money,then not one dollar would be taken from the defense dept. I truly believe that Mr. Gates has been promised a future job by someone close to the present administration and he is selling out country and our security. Check out his past record and also read this previous thread. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2249209/posts


98 posted on 01/06/2011 8:40:37 PM PST by Macgedos
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To: ConjunctionJunction

Bump


99 posted on 01/06/2011 10:42:56 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: ScubieNuc

I have seen this ‘use the whole budget’ behavior firsthand in federal civil service, this is the first I’ve heard in the military.


100 posted on 01/06/2011 10:45:52 PM PST by vmpolesov
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