Government Auditors Issue Scathing Review Of Pentagon's Weapons Budget

Washington Post:

Government auditors issued a scathing review yesterday of dozens of the Pentagon's biggest weapons systems, saying ships, aircraft and satellites are billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

The Government Accountability Office found that 95 major systems have exceeded their original budgets by a total of $295 billion, bringing their total cost to $1.6 trillion, and are delivered almost two years late on average. In addition, none of the systems that GAO looked at had met all of the standards for best management practices during their development stages.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[markusmarkus]

Why must we spend so much on war while we spend so little on peace?

[1differentdrummer]

Budgets are for losers. If you got it, flaunt it , baby. Just because we call ourselves conservative doesn't mean we're cheap with money, does it? GW Bush.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

In 04 the Rumsfeld led Pentagon killed the Comanche helicopter after the huge development cost poured into it. The Comanche was due to be to be fazed in as a replacement for the current Apache Long Bow, which was developed and modified since the Vietnam error, simply because the construction of the Long Bow favored Republican districts. I recently read that a new attacked class submarine is being constructed in 2 halves, making it more expensive to build; so 2 congressional districts can be included. This administration is screwing around with a low yield nuclear tactical warhead and a cold war style missile defense system, which has failed in testing time and time again. Bush is pushing the deployment of this system in Eastern Europe, which is staining our relationship with Russia. The F22 Raptor fighter-bomber is a cool aircraft, but the most expensive fighter ever developed and it is not currently needed in a low tech, down in the dirt counter insurgency conflict we are currently mired in Iraq. I only bring up the Comanche Helicopter which was kill after 7 years of development because it is faster and more agile than the aging Long Bow and a heck a lot more useful in a conflict like Iraq.

[tumblewind]

It looks to me like the same war profiteer free for all going on in Iraq! With the American taxpayer footing the bill for all the greed. While our troops on the ground in Iraq don't have the proper equipment to save lives! This whole government needs to be audited. Anyone caught stealing needs to be tried for crimes.

[dadw5boys]

Put it all togeather!!!!!
$ Billion in Iraq + $ Million in Afganistan + $ Billions in Isreal + $ Billions for new basrs in the Middle East + $ Trillions for New Military Equipment + $ Trillions for the Housing SCAM.

The U.S. Dollar shoud be EQUAL TO THE MEXICAN DOLLAR NOW.

THE USA CAN BE A MEMBER OF CAFTA .
With their currency value equal to that of South American Currencies.

[Erdgeist]

The Pentagon's military priorities are utterly outrageous. It is locked in the land time forgot. A great deal of the budget sitll goes for Cold War weapons such as Virginia class submarines, the F-35, etc. The military budget could be cut 80% and still be effective to meet todays military needs which, according to the U.S. Constitution, are defensive (not preemptive or preventative). Right now the Pentagon budget is backdoor welfare for corporations that neither have the brains nor the will to create anything else besides death machines. In the meantime our nation's infrastructure is almost Third World while Congress continues to pour more of the tax payer's money down the Pentagon rat-hole.

[sonofsamstone]

You've touched on an important point. Priorities!

The whole Defense Dept. system is largely about funneling money to Defense Contractors through the Pentagon. Research and Development is an expensive proposition and usually not an efficient use of money. If the public can subsidize that R&D, the end product becomes more profitable.

We're paying the R&D costs for major corporations so they can sell us more shit! If we're going to have a planned economy with government subsidies to industry, we should at least funnel some of the Pentagon budget into R&D for renewable resources. THAT is what national security should be about. Produce our own energy so we won't have to spend our blood and treasure all over the rest of the world looking for oil and protecting our "interests".

[aceholiday]

you mean it's been all about MONEY?!?!?!?! but, i thought it was about terrorism and security

[dadw5boys]

THEY TERRORIZED YOUR MONEY!!!!!

[gcallaghan]

Republicans = Military Failure

[PierreLeClerke]

The greatest theft in the history of the planet. "Mission Accomplished"

[PierreLeClerke]

ABOLISH this government on April 19th in Philadelphia Independence Hall @ 9am. We the People are the seat and the source of all authority in this self governed Nation of ours. It is our sacred Constitutional duty to act to ABOLISH any government that fails to abide by the Rule of Law and to represent the will of the People.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

If I had the money right now I'd be there on the 19th. But I fully support the act of abolishing this government as it exists. It's done, cooked, bastardized, and should be buried. If it came up on a local initiative I would fully support it.

[timeforachangenow]

disgusting and abhorrent!

[irishgawdess]

"Auditors said the Defense Department showed few signs of improvement... "

And why should it? Congress gives them MORE than they ask for, and the DOD still comes back with their hands out for supplemental funding, and they get that as well. I bet the highest number of earmarks fall under DOD budgets.

Congress doesn't seem to care how last year's budget was spent, as long as their constituents get some earmarks sent their way THIS year. For example, Boeing bid on a refueling tanker project worth up to $40 billion. Yes, it would have been a boon to Washington's state's local economy. However, Boeing was listed in this article as being late and over-budget on another huge project. WHY SHOULD THEY BE AWARDED ANOTHER MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WHEN THEY CAN'T GET THE LAST ONE DONE ON TIME AND ON (OR UNDER) BUDGET? (Yes, I'm screaming!) The GAO appears to be the only sheriff in town, but who listens to them anyway? Rep. Henry Waxman for sure, but the military spending continues.

Why, it would be un-patriotic and show a total lack of support for the troops if Congress were to vote to decrease or deny the DOD budget requests. Ironically, the troops still don't have the protective vehicles and personal equipment they really need to fight in Iraq, nor the medical care required when they get back home.

Are the American government's priorities fucked up or what??

[nofltwlt]

Every aspect of this administration and its failed policies has received a "scathing" review. The question is, what will be done.

The answer is simple, impeach, indict and imprison.

[Macready]

corruption inc . . .is the name of this administration . . . impeachment is the only way forward . . .just do it Nancy ... cut the crap

[jdfast]

Naw, Lord Nancy says impeachment is off the table. Thanks Nancy, you make my world better because crooks get away with anyting and you aid them in doing so. Can you say co-conspiritor?

[Mark701]

Good idea that will never happen. As long as there are Congressmen who are willing to support Bush and others who are unwilling to challenge him then we will be forced to ride out stormy seas while our elected fools do everything they can to navigate the ship of state over the falls.

[mamacat]

From my days in the service, I would say that the reality of waste is even worse than what is portrayed in the article. It is amazing that our military is as good as it is, given the incompetence in civilian leadership.

On a related subject, I hope the next administration makes the use of mercenaries illegal. Better yet, it should be made unconstitutional. It is in the best interests of the tens of thousands of mercenaries in Iraq to make our dirty little wars last as long as possible. It is not in their interest to promote the welfare of the indigenous peoples. The only thing that is in their interest is to stay alive, by whatever means possible, so they can enjoy the huge sums we pay them. From the point of view of a mercenary, the Iraq war should go on until he can retire to his own little island in the South Pacific, at tax payer expense.
Meanwhile, our young veterans get the shaft.

[sparkey]

But, the theft is going soooo well. If we put a stop to it now, then the terrorists win. Bin Laden, Bin Laden, Bin Laden! You are now afraid. Cheney approved this message which was sent to his puppet to be told to his faithful public.