When the Axe Falls, Not IF!
There’s little doubt that the country’s financial situation will precipitate cuts at the DOD. The infighting will be fierce. The Pentagon turf wars have begun, and the politicians are already pushing their agendas.
Obama Calls for Sweeping Review of U.S. Military Strategy
President Obama finally acknowledged what critics have been saying for months: Defense budget cuts cannot be treated as a “math problem” and must be accompanied by sweeping changes in U.S. military strategy and long-term objectives.
Now common sense dictates that changes DO need to be made, and arguably some of those changes will be painful.
We absolutely require a strong defense – we have external enemies that must be faced, but what form should that defense take? If we wind up with another post-Vietnam style draw down (with essentially across the board cuts) we may well be unable to deal with any threat.
At least SOME folks are asking the needed questions, but for some time there has been an apparent lack of of strategic goals.
There’s one thing certain. Continuing with seemingly haphazard ‘kinetic military actions’ and lengthy ‘after the bombing’ nation building will continue to sap our military. And we WILL need them!
Category: Politics
Another issue, another commission to study the problem. Another set of recommendations to ignore, until the issue is raised again. See also: Debt Commission.
Warfare has changed greatly, and our present system is to cumbersome to react in any way other than throwing money at it. We have the right people with the right skill sets to dominate the full spectrum of operations. We lack a coherant strategy to employ these folks.
I don’t think that all of our overseas bases are needed. I think that some can be closed.
I have a law degree and an MBA and have spent the last 15 years working with distressed businesses. I have found that when in desperate situations, you have to have one person who makes the decisions and sticks with them. In short, you need a benevolent dictator. Therefore, I hereby nominate myself to the job of benevolent budget dictator. I will hire a very small staff of professionals to assist me. This staff will have strong analytical skills and spines of steel.
When I am appointed benevolent budget dictator, I am going to go through the budget line by line and ask should people in (insert applicable small town here) have to pay for this? If not, it goes. Sorry Cowboy Poet Society – there will be no more joy for you. I will also pass a rule that no federal building can be named for a living person. That should help with the vanity projects for which the late, not-so-great Sen. Bird was famous. Foreign aid will be analyzed based on (1) need; (2) the number of the leaders of the recipient that have called the US an “evil empire” in the trailing twelve-month period; and (3) the likelihood of some marginal benefit to society the aid provides.
As to the defense budget, I am going to sit down with the top brass and go through each weapons program and ask them if it makes us more able to defend this country. Where the weapons platform is manufactured WILL NOT be a factor in this discussion. Stuff that nobody wants, but gives jobs in Bubba’s district are gone.
When spending is cut to size and fiscal sanity has been restored, you may then nominate me for the job of Benevolent Dictator of the Country and I will get all other areas in check – such as the State Department, whose budget I will have already reviewed. After I have completed these tasks, you may worship me.
Susan = an honest lawyer, i.e. she wants the power!
Never thought I’d pair “honest” and “lawyer” together in the same sentence…
Susan #3: I detect irony. If not your intent, file the following under “Ponsdorf the Paranoid”?
A reasoned case can be made that the scene is being set for what you describe. Only, sadly, it won’t be you on the throne. Seems to me that either those inside The Beltway are astonishing incompetent or… The Hidden Agenda is moving ahead quite nicely?
BTW,even paranoids have enemies.
Some irony was intended, but I do believe that if someone with some background in distressed businesses was to go through the budget line by line and cut the crap, then address the bigger issues re financing entitlements, we would be in a better position. It will never happen because nobody in DC is willing to risk their sacred cows getting gored.
Susan #6: Of course you are right. I just extrapolated some seemingly obvious points. Jonn pays me the big bucks to be a sort of geezer cynic. Then he get’s to offer a counter with his boundless optimism.