Gates: Reform Budget reflecting on lessons learned in Iraq & Afghanistan

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNtGe64qbk   Posted on YouTube: April 06, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 06, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 967

 
Another clip in which he asks congress to "rise above Parochial Interests and consider what is in the best interest of the nation as a whole": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jix4h0MpYk

AP WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday recommended halting production of the F-22 fighter jet and scrapping a new helicopter for the president as he outlined deep cuts to many of the military's biggest weapons programs.

Gates said his $534 billion budget proposal represents a "fundamental overhaul" in defense acquisition and reflects a shift in priorities from fighting conventional wars to the newer threats U.S. forces face from insurgents in places such as Afghanistan.

The department must ensure it has the right programs and money to "fight the wars we are in today and the scenarios we are most likely to face in the years to come, while at the same time providing a hedge against other risks," Gates said as he revealed details of his budget for the next fiscal year.

The promised emphasis on budget paring is a reversal from the Bush years, which included a doubling of the Pentagon's spending since 2001. Spending on tanks, fighter planes, ships, missiles and other weapons accounted for about a third of all defense spending last year. But Gates noted more money will be needed in areas such as personnel as the Army and Marines expand the size of their forces.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090406/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/defense_budget

[ProfessorPlum]

1. Well, I like the words he spoke

talking about how money for Defense represents an opportunity cost for things we don't do for our people is the very beginning of sanity.

[MedioGringo]

2. How does a 534 billion dollar budget...

... constitute deep cuts in spending? People need to wake up and realize that our defense budget (which is actually closer to 734 billion) is insane and is single handedly keeping us from affording things like universal health care and real government pensions.

Here's something to consider:

[defendandprotect]

3. Any chance he's getting rid of the 45,000 private contractors in Iraq . . . ???

The Military Industrial Intelligence Complex has to be reigned in . . .

so that peace can live.

They have to go back to square one -- bring troops home from all over the world --

and begin justifying every cost!!