Budget to make clear that post-9/11 military spending spree has ended

[babylonsister]

Budget to make clear that post-9/11 military spending spree has ended
By John T. Bennett - 02/13/11 06:50 PM ET


The 2012 spending plan the Pentagon will deliver to Capitol Hill on Monday will feature few surprises, but it will make clear that the post-9/11 military spending spree has ended, congressional aides and analysts say.

snip//

Gates announced in January that the White House ordered the Pentagon to cut $78 billion over five years, but added the military was able to largely offset that due to the success of his internal cost-cutting efforts.

“There is clear desire by the White House to draw down total annual defense funding — as soon as possible,” said Jim McAleese, a Virginia-based defense consultant.

Adm. Michael Mullen, Joint Chiefs chairman, last week told an industry conference that “hard times” are ahead for the defense budget.

“With the deficit at $1.5 trillion for FY 2011, and tax cuts taken off the table for at least the next two years, pressure is building to reduce government spending, and DoD is not likely to be immune from this,” said Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. “In a period of fiscal austerity, that means DoD will have to accept some risks and divest of lower-priority programs and capabilities.”

more...

http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/defense-homeland-security/143747-budget-to-make-clear-that-post-911-military-spending-spree-has-ended

[DCKit]

1. And yet they think nothing of throwing more $$$$ at all the contractors who have defrauded...

the government in the recent past, much of it as no-bid contracts. If the fines were punitive, instead of just a "cost of doing business", we'd save that $100 billion in the first year.

I know, I know. That's not how it works.

[babylonsister]

2. I hear you; I wish I knew how it worked. I'm sick of all the

wars, people killed and hurt by them, money spent on them, but it's above my pay grade, as they say.

[Clio the Leo]

3. kick nt