[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

[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%.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[RetiredArmy]

This is how America will end. The Holy Bible does not mention the USA in the end times. America will not be America that we knew and loved when the end comes. Something is going to happen to America that brings it down. I believe the Rapture of the Church will be the most significant thing, but this, down sizing the US military will be another. America simply will not be able to defend itself from China and Russia acting together, with larger military machines than a tiny America force. America is going down folks. Those that simply do not believe that need to crack open a Bible and read. The Bible predicted the One World Government over 3,000 years ago. That alone tells you the Holy Word of God is true and not some Jewish camp fire writings. The Bible clearly shows this One World Government was coming, and it is right there for us all too see. And the Word told us this 3,000 years ago. Time for you that simply refuse to believe, to give Christ another look. It is the only way out of this mess. Eternity is a heck of a lot longer than your 60 or 70 earth years. Think about it.

[Taxman]

Louis Johnson redux?