Hagel hints at military pay cuts, dings Reagan DOD

Washington Examiner ^ | 4/3/2013 | Joel Gehrke

[markomalley]

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called for the Defense Department to be organized more efficiently than it was under Ronald Reagan after raising the possibility of cuts in pay and benefits for military members.

Hagel blamed the prospective cuts on sequestration. “[F]iscal realities demand another hard look at personnel – how many people we have both military and civilian, how many we need, what these people do, and how we compensate them for their work, service, and loyalty with pay, benefits and health care,” Hagel said at the National Defense University today.

He also hinted at cutting jobs for military brass. “The last major defense re-organization, Goldwater-Nichols, was drafted at the height of the Reagan defense buildup and focused on improving jointness and establishing clear operational chains of command,” Hagel said. “Cost and efficiency were not major considerations . . . Today the operational forces of the military – measured in battalions, ships, and aircraft wings – have shrunk dramatically since the Cold War era. Yet the three and four star command and support structures sitting atop these smaller fighting forces have stayed intact, with minor exceptions, and in some cases they are actually increasing in size and rank.”

Hagel devoted much of the speech to discussing how to cut military spending, but argued against withdrawal from the world.

“America does not have the luxury of retrenchment – we have too many global interests at stake, including our security, our prosperity, and our future,” he said in conclusion. “We have made mistakes and miscalculations with our great power. But as history has advanced, America has helped make a better world for all people with its power. A world where America does not lead is not the world I wish my children to inherit.”

[markomalley]

From the text of the speech:

With full recognition for the great stresses that our troops and their families have been under and been under for nearly twelve years of war, and for the essential contributions civilian employees make to the Department’s mission, fiscal realities demand another hard look at personnel – how many people we have both military and civilian, how many we need, what these people do, and how we compensate them for their work, service, and loyalty with pay, benefits and health care. This will involve asking tough questions.

[illiac]

Hagel seems to forget that Reagan DOD has been changed over the years...Hagel’s boss is now in charge....has been for nearly 6 years, now.

[ClearCase_guy]

Hagel blamed the prospective cuts on sequestration.

Maybe I'm being a word nazi but isn't "sequestration" a legal concept which mandates cuts?

So, he's blaming the cuts on the cuts?

Brilliant.

[Secret Agent Man]

Hagel then went on to say that to make up for lost salary, troops could require citizens to take them in, feed them, and be able to keep a certain amount of spoils from citizens and enemy combatants.

“George W Bush had it wrong, but King George had it right,” said Hagel.

/not really sarc

[Secret Agent Man]

So he’s basically outright blaming it on Obama. He’s got some nerve.

Obama was the architect of the sequester concept.

Republican leaders are in it with Obama sadly. They knew no matter what they’d be blamed. If they opposed it, they’d be blamed for rejecting ideas and obstructionism. If they supported it, it’s suddenly their fault the plan gets put into action even though it’s Obama’s plan.

They are too smart to fall for this, which is why the only logical conclusion is the RINO leadership is just the yin to Obama’s yang. The conservative purge and “I trust Obama absolutely” just make it irrefutable.

[Jim Robinson]

I hope he’s starting by slashing his own salary, benefits and pension and those of all civilians in his department. And slash the number of employees and offices and other wasteful overhead while he’s at it.

[Gene Eric]

Lemme guess... 5%.

[shooter223]

Yet another example of ignoring the Constitution. The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads:

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

[The Working Man]

It’s just another way of showing their contempt for the Military forces of the U.S.

[Eleutheria5]

How much is being spent on recruiting drives, I wonder. Can that be cut?

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Hagel really meant to say:

“We have made mistakes and miscalculations with our great power, and Obama and I plan to continue with them”.

[rbg81]

Hagel should really start by cutting appropriations for the Beltway Bandits.

And, meanwhile, Obama and the Dems plot to shower illegal immigrants with benefits.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks markomalley.

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[Terry Mross]

Well, Hagel, don’t worry about it. Just issue some more daggers.

I’m afraid there will soon come a day when only armed citizens will be able to fight against our invaders. And that’s only if the citizens have any arms.

[ConservativeInPA]

The United States military has almost always been very effective at inefficiently achieving their mission. I don't have a problem with cutting top brass. The military is top heavy. They will get jobs lobbying or as defense contractors. Our real Inefficiencies are based on how we wage war.

The problem we have is with this entire rebuilding of nations. This I consider G.W. Bush's fatal legacy. Our military was capable of winning wars in days or weeks, now I am not certain. The one thing I am certain is that we have too many good men rotating in and out of combat on a regular basis. They do not get to return home as victors and get to stay home to train the next in line.

We spend millions on smart weapons when carpet bombing with inexpensive "dumb" bombs would actually do a more effective job. My point here is simple, we need to change the minds and spirits of our enemies. Scaring the hell out of them and sending them back to the 8th century is more effective and cheaper than rebuilding/upgrading their already backward societies. We need to demoralize our enemies to the point that they ask for unconditional surrender.

That saves lives on both sides, but more importantly it saves American lives and American treasure.

[cherry]

we’re not going to be “smart” about anything....we will waste good personal, good weapons, and ammo and supplies and it’ll all be because we don’t want to really “win” anything and afterall, all that military defense money makes billions for the crony capitalists..

[CMS]

How about cutting welfare, you know stop supporting the worthless pieces of human excriment that are too damn lazy to work!!!!!!!!!!!

[ConservativeInPA]

That too.

[CMS]

Good lord.....that poster wasn’t being serious.

[SkyPilot]

With full recognition for the great stresses that our troops and their families have been under and been under for nearly twelve years of war, and for the essential contributions civilian employees make to the Department’s mission, fiscal realities demand another hard look at personnel – how many people we have both military and civilian, how many we need, what these people do, and how we compensate them for their work, service, and loyalty with pay, benefits and health care. This will involve asking tough questions.

What he is really saying is he wants to screw over active duty and the veterans who have served this nation by further eroding military healthcare and pay.

Meanwhile, one in five Americans are on Social Security Disability or Food Stamps, and the numbers go up by the thousands every single day. We seem to have an endless pile of money for that.

We reward the takers, and punish the noble.

Our military has been under fiscal assault for years. Things are about to get even worse.

Hagel's views on Israel alone should have disqualified him.

This is going to be a disastrous time for the DoD, Israel, and America.