Yglesias: Gates, Obama to Take on Military-Industrial Complex

[Pirate Smile]

Mar 17th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

Gates, Obama to Take on Military-Industrial Complex

There have been a lot of smoke signals indicating that Robert Gates and Barack Obama are gearing up to take on the bloated defense weapons system sector, but there have also been a fair number of contrary signals. Now the signals are looking both clear and good:

Two defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly said Gates will announce up to a half-dozen major weapons cancellations later this month. Candidates include a new Navy destroyer, the Air Force’s F-22 fighter jet, and Army ground-combat vehicles, the officials said. More cuts are planned for later this year after a review that could lead to reductions in programs such as aircraft carriers and nuclear arms, the officials said.

This is excellent news. Matt Duss observes:

This is welcome news. As I wrote yesterday, one of the key strategic misconceptions of the Bush administration was to focus on threats from strong state actors rather than non-state actors operating within weak and failed states. (Last fall, CAP’s Brian Katulis argued — as did I — that Gates’ demonstrated approach to 21st century national security challenges was a good reason to keep him in place in an Obama administration.)

Andrew Exum observes that this means the Gates Pentagon will now be fighting a three front war, adding “the bi-partisan coalition of lobbyists, congressmen, and industry leaders” to their existing problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Gordon Adams in a guest post at Democracy Arsenal takes on the specious economic argument for continuing with strategically blinkered weapons programs.

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/03/gates_obama_to_take_on_military_industrial_complex.php

This is going to be a huge fight with Democrats fighting the Obama Administration along with Republicans and Lobbyists.

Obama is also trying to pass a budget that will end 30 years of Reagan economic policy dominance .

If people on the Democratic side continue to try to undercut and weaken the Administration, neither of these battles will probably be won and we can bitch for another 30 years.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Obama outrage. :) I'm sorry for the interruption.

[Captain Hilts]

1. The Ford Class carrier is also not worth the money. nt

[jody]

2. Rumsfeld said "you go to war with the weapons you have, not the weapons you wish you had" so does

Obama wish to disarm?

That's one way a unitary president can withdraw from foreign entanglements like Afghanistan and forces stationed in Korea and Africa.

Obama can either declare the U.S. will not prepare to fight two wars at once as well as multiple COIN conflicts or submit requirements to congress for the necessary resources for DoD to complete its mission as stated in the NIE.

[Pirate Smile]

4. You think Obama wants to "disarm"? Gates too?

[jody]

5. I don't know, do you? At present the US plans to fight two wars. The choice is Obama's either equip

DoD to fight two wars or reject that national policy.

[Pirate Smile]

6. No, I don't. We don't need Republicans to attack the WH and Gates on this because Dems will do it

themselves. Thank you for being exhibit A.

You think Obama would be willing to undermine the defense of the country and Gates is more then happy to go along? Unbelievable.

[jody]

14. NIE is not a partisan issue, both parties have generally found a compromise position on the

threats to the US that are the foundation for determining what resources are required to counter those threats.

Of course a president can use his/her appointed members of the National Intelligence Council to try and distort the NIE as Dubya did in the past administration.

Suggest you learn something about the NIE and Senate-House committees before you make ridiculous statements like "Thank you for being exhibit A."

[Fearless]

8. It's not necessarily about disarming...

But about making financially wise decisions and cutting out cold war programs that make no sense today. We are currently spending billions a year fighting last generation's wars. Not only does this cost us money, but it actually makes us far weaker as a nation as we are not prepared for present day conflicts because our money is being siphoned into outdated programs.

Put that in the rethugs' pipes and smoke it. :+

[Pirate Smile]

9. I certainly don't think it is about disarming. I was responding to a post.

:)

[Fearless]

13. I know. Just saying.

:P

[ClarkUSA]

3. But, but, but... I thought President Obama is "Bush-lite" and "more like Reagan"??

Could some DUers be full of shit? :sarcasm:

[Pirate Smile]

7. kick

[Uzybone]

10. He hasnt fixed the economy in 60 days

he is a failure.

[polichick]

11. You couldn't post this without chiding others for questioning their elected officials??

I was all ready to K&R

[stillcool]

12. I wish them luck..

they're going to need it. They certainly aren't going to be getting much support from the internets. I think I'm going to do that canvassing thing this weekend and get a dose of reality.

[Festivito]

15. Perhaps Cons might ratchet up the doing too much meme.

Oh, they're money is going to unwashed masses, they're so disgusted.