Joe sent me this article (thanks guy, it spoiled my day but its a must read in my opinion).
Read it here.
Long story short. Defense is primed to get a major haircut if liberal leaning thinkers have there way. Its totally understandable IF all programs get the same treatment but entitlement programs shouldn't be saved at the expense of constitutionally required government functions.
I also find it interesting that Defense is considered a standalone entity when our foreign policy (including the protection of other advanced democracies) drives our spending. Unless we have a policy change then any cuts in Defense spending will be a fools errand.
Sol, i am sorry to dissappoint your day but as an army brat my dad will like bumming out a marine! :D
ReplyDeletei dont agree with many of these things, we cant cut the F35 program, our fighters are the best in the air, but not for long if we dont put more 22s in service or dont get the 35 in the air. Also i am in favor of taking a flat top or two out of service if possible. We also need to get our asses out of where we arent needed, S. Korea, Germany, Japan, etc. We can keep supplies and a skeleton people there, but keep our soliders here to boost our economy here and not their economies. most of these countries dont like us having large numbers of people there.
Also DOD has the same problems with healthcare as entitlements, raising premiums and other things are short term band aids, we need to control spiraling costs of healthcare in all sectors. This will take some time but we need to control costs somehow, and while i know theres a debate about Obamas health law atleast they are trying to control costs and not just cutting people out of the system. While the VA has gotten alot of crap in the last few years it actually has a state of the art health system, something we can learn from.
OK will stop my rant now :)
Cheers!
Lots of hyperbole from the guy who tried to kill the Osprey. A couple of good ideas though. His carrier argument could come from 1949. There are new threats but if we want to project power, carriers or amphibs are still the way to go.
ReplyDeleteBuilding carriers like 1943? In 1943 the US built 6 large carriers and 9 escort carriers! Don't let facts get in the way of a good story. If it is America's choice to not have the forward presence we have now. Maybe a carrier or two can go. Our force must be built on a future strategic vision, hopefully by someone more qualified than a community organizer.
F-15, F-16s, F-18s are still the world’s best, but most are out of hours. (Check Check6.com for a hornet falling apart.) They have to be replaced. Do we replace them with new 15s, 16s, 18s, which will cost nearly as much as an F-35, but are not as capable.
Author talks about China as a threat and then says our main enemy is in caves? Which is it? We have to be prepared for both. An all drone force is dangerous. I want a thinking, well trained pilot supporting troops on the ground.
Subs are the best way to thwart China, sorry, we need them.
I would like to dig into the numbers about our budget. I am skeptical that Mr. Thompson has the statistics right. Bottom line, If we cut the entire DOD, we would still run a $1,000,000,000,000 (trillion!) dollar deficit.
Good idea, unless countries start paying us for our protection, we should pull out of most countries. Right now we pay countries to let us protect them.
i am all for having countries pay us to do their military protection, hell let britian just disband their ministry of defense and pay us, we are carrying alot of their share anyway.
ReplyDeletealso, i agree subs are very important, i think we should cut these LCS crap ships they are building (unless they revamp them to make them actually compbat ready) and start making even more virginias, we are buying two virginias now because its becoming easier and cheaper to make them, see (http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/the-good-news-story-of-the-virginia-class-submarine?a=1&c=1171). these will be the work horse of the navy to come when we need to strike first and strike hard.