GOP Candidates Noticeably Silent On Pentagon Spending Reform

[unhappycamper]

http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/12/gop-candidates-noticeably-silent-on-pentagon-spending-reform/



GOP Candidates Noticeably Silent On Pentagon Spending Reform
David Williams
6:37 PM 08/12/2015

The future of the Republican approach to foreign policy and national security was on full display during the first presidential debates. The candidates made pledges to take on the Islamic State and to rip up the Iran nuclear deal, but unfortunately, they failed to offer a grand vision or strategy on how to deal with the security challenges of today and the years to come. They also failed to address Pentagon spending and how to reform the Pentagon to be more equipped fiscally and physically to fight the next war.

~snip~

Before taxpayers are asked to throw more money at the Pentagon, it is important to first figure out how the Pentagon currently spends its money.

While an audit is hopefully forthcoming, we already know there’s rampant waste, fraud and abuse at the Department of Defense (DOD). And, even though Congress claimed to have outlawed earmarks, they still pop up in the DOD appropriations bill. For example, in fiscal year 2015 there were 293 earmarks worth more than $13 billion stuffed into the Pentagon spending bill.

~snip~

Instead of reform, the Republican presidential candidates will probably talk about how we need to spend more on our military. And when they do, citizens need to ask them exactly how and why we should do that. If their overall strategy is supporting a larger military, candidates still need to answer the question of how it will be paid for with a country that is $18 trillion in debt.