[ScubieNuc]

The number 3 loser was about benefits. These Congress critters and administrators moan that the benefits are too much and most people who serve 20 years get out. Well, duh. Obviously no one proposing these changes in retirement must have served in the military. 20 years in the military is, in most cases, equivalant to 40 years in civilian world. The other thing that is ironic is I believe Congress critters get benefits for life, even if they just serve one 4 or 6 year term. Hypocrits! Cut your own benefits before touching the benefits of our troops.

[kosciusko51]

While I think there is waste that could be removed from the Pentagon budget, this is the one area that should be fully funded before all of the non-Constitutional “entitlement” programs. If we have insufficient ability to “provide for the common defense”, we have no country.

[Vince Ferrer]

We have a long way to go in cutting the federal budget, and we really haven't even started on anything except the military and NASA. But what I see of the military budget is hopeful and well reasoned. The largest parts of the military budget are not the high tech gizmos, but the mundane things like salaries, benefits, and fuel. I am not in favor of cutting salaries and benefits, especially to currently serving members. So that leaves the less painful option of cutting down the number of personnel. By having smaller, and especially more automated forces, they can still perform their constitutional duties while saving the budget.

Now, can we please get started on the non military cuts as well?

[blueunicorn6]

Look at all those federal civilian employees that have been cut

Yeah, I’m looking, too.

[bert]

I’m not sure I disagree with what was listed.

I’m pleased with the removal of the occupying brigades from Europe.

Ten years have passed and the Soviet threat has evaporated. It seems that the need for presence in Europe is to have advance staging for operations in west Asia or east of the Arabian Gulf.

[Vaduz]

More money for the Special Population Academic Readiness Centers I guess.
Every transnational vote counts. /s