Military budget crunch fuels concerns in Congress that child care, service

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27801

Members of Congress voiced concerns Tuesday that funding for child care centers, barracks maintenance and other military base programs will be hurt by what they call inadequate money for construction and repair in the proposed 2006 defense budget.

During a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing, Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., said he was “astounded” that Army officials haven’t maintained “the level necessary to keep child care centers open, dining halls serving chow, lights turned on and base employees reporting to work.”

Army operations funding will be underfunded by nearly $1 billion in the proposed 2006 budget, and other military services will see a $400 million drop in much-needed repair and construction funds, according to subcommittee members.

But defense officials said the funding levels are adequate, and the services are committed to maintaining current programs and providing quality housing to keep servicemembers’ morale up.

[Erika]

1. It appears our Defense officials

are neocons who could care less about anything other than gaining military superiority.

[Spinzonner]

2. Let them live in unarmored Humvees

as they recycle them from Iraq

[MADem]

3. Feel that draft?

The Armed Services right now have the highest percentage of "family soldiers" than at any time in their history. It used to be that younger servicemen would wait to get married until they got a bit of rank. Nowadays, they marry younger and start families sooner. The way to solve that problem is increase your ratio of 18-21 year olds, and you do that with a draft. That way, you don't NEED as many family support and services functions.

It's almost inevitable, and very worrying.