With the recent submission of findings by the bi-partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform recommending a 15 percent cut in U.S. defense procurement and a 10 percent reduction in research and development, the future of American military dominance appears to be in question. Even prior to the report’s release, the Pentagon launched a campaign to target the elimination of up to $100 Billion in inefficient spending.
Yet, speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Gates openly criticized such proposals:
“Given the security challenges that the U.S. is likely to face around the world — and the unfortunate reality that most of our allies are reducing their militaries — the burdens on us and the security challenges are going to remain unchanged and potentially even increase in the future — therefore, the need to sustain force structure,” he said.
“If you cut the defense budget by 10 percent — which would be catastrophic in terms of force structure – that’s $55 billion out of a $1.4 trillion deficit,” he said. “We are not the problem.”
Mr. Gate’s position is not unique. Even with calls for reductions in federal spending across the board, the likely incoming House Armed Services Committee Chairman shares the Defense Secretary’s sentiment:
“Cutting defense spending amidst two wars, is a red line for me and should be a red line for all Americans. You do not need to be a policy expert to realize that investment is key to maintaining a robust defense” Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-California — currently the ranking member of the House Armed Service Committee — told an audience at the Foreign Policy Institute on Monday.
In fact McKeon would even be opposed to just a small increase in the defense budget.
“The growth in the department’s top line is insufficient to address the future capabilities required by our military. One percent real growth in the defense budget over the next five years is a net cut for investment and procurement accounts. A defense budget in decline portends an America in decline.”
Read more here:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=61714
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-15/politics/armed.services.mckeon_1_defense-budget-guantanamo-detainees-defense-spending?_s=PM:POLITICS
