Gates Likes Military's Initial Budget Cut Proposals

SAN DIEGO — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he is pleased with the military services' initial recommendations for cutting their budgets and spending the savings on weapons modernization.

Gates called the services' cuts and reinvestment priorities ambitious and aggressive.

"Because they get to reinvest savings, they're highly motivated to make it work," the Pentagon chief said.

Gates has ordered the services and the Pentagon's agencies to find $100 billion in spending cuts and savings over the next five years.

Some of the proposed cuts have already drawn fierce opposition from members of Congress whose districts would be affected.

Six members of Virginia's congressional delegation wrote to Gates on Friday warning that Gates' call to close the Joint Forces Command, located in their state, would cripple American combat capability, wreck southeastern Virginia's economy and sidestep federal base closing procedures.

Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner and Reps. Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Rob Wittman and Glenn Nye wrote that it was "deeply disturbing that you would apparently act on a recommendation that reflects superficial research and a lack of analytical rigor."

Gates' press secretary, Geoff Morrell, said that Gates is "sensitive" to concerns and that eliminating the command will create some difficulties for Virginia. But he said Gates believes the actions are necessary to addresses the overall interests of the military and ensure adequate investment in forces and weapons modernization.

Morrell said Gates rejects the argument that the action requires a base closing commission. "We are eliminating an organization, not closing a base," the spokesman said.

Gates praised the military response to his plan in comments to reporters during a visit to San Diego's Marine recruit depot. There, he welcomed a group of 196 Marines who had just completed a 13-week basic training course.

As the new Marines stood under the bright sun with a breeze rippling palm trees behind them, Gates praised the "uncommon perseverance" they showed in making it through basic training.

Later he was flying to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Washington state.

Comments

[afgail]

04:18 AM on 08/16/2010

Pay military personel a living wage and let them buy/rent their own homes. Sure would be a boost in the housing market which would have the domino effect of perking up the economy. Cut all other military expenses and watch the deficit head south.

[afgail]

04:13 AM on 08/16/2010

The BS is running fast and deep. There is no "progress" and no "winning" the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is only our occupation and a war of attrition on our troops. Just declare victory and bring the troops home.

[MarkMad]

09:19 PM on 08/15/2010

Gobbledygook Mr. Gates, we know that all the money in the world would not pay for a quarter of your budget, unless of course, your currency is very special, not to mention counterfeit. The great Chinese general Sun Tzu mentioned in his book the Art of War that a modest war cost a million a day, and those estimates are ancient. In today estimates, in order to support you one thousand military bases around the world, with fifth thousand men in each base, would cost around 100 billion a day. See Mr. Gates, we know that you’re lying. Good reading.

[dfranz]

07:48 PM on 08/15/2010

Keep the politicians out of it and it might be meaningful.

We are already making things that the military doesn't even want like C-130's the Airforce doesn't need because they happen to be made in some Senators state.

Frankly, I don't think Congress is serious about cutting the Defense budget. They would rather send pallets of 100 dollar bills into the nether world never to be seen again

[schatsie]

02:22 PM on 08/15/2010

Gut the Grunts says Gates...Reinvest in systems that will never ever work....

[IfIonlyknew]

12:31 PM on 08/15/2010

Gates called the services' cuts and reinvestment priorities ambitious and aggressive.

As he thinks of new non so called military spending so he can be getting this money right back in their hands. This is insanity at it's best

[Kevin Atlanta]

08:47 AM on 08/15/2010

Mr Gates:

The idea is to actually cut Military spending and this meme of "reinvest" is bull puckey and absolute nonsense.

Cut the Military budget by 30% now and 10% at 5 year increments until we are spending only 50% of what we do now.

Rein in the CIA and cut their budget by the same until these spooks are drummed out of existence.

Do the right thing and stop the insanity of American Imperialist Intervention in other nation's government.

[rgateman]

09:25 AM on 08/15/2010

You are correct sir! I also notice there are no mentions of cancellation of any defunct weapon system like missle defense shields that have never worked or any new ships we don't need, cancellation of subs that are now obsolete cold war weapons or new fighter planes with no mission or enemy. Reinvest means no cuts and keep on stealing.

[Y2KCockroach]

02:47 AM on 08/15/2010

How ironic, that the only "bomb" to hit our forces with game-changing capacity is the "debt-bomb" that the Pentagon helped to build...

[disgruntledprogressives]

01:11 AM on 08/15/2010

As the money pot dries up, military operations will wind down. Let's hope not precipitously like in the defunct Soviet Union when it collapsed after the money ran out.

[Kevin Atlanta]

08:52 AM on 08/15/2010

They had Larry Summers there to help set up the Oligarchy too. Funny how history is repeating here in the USA.

[Bat Wrangler]

10:40 PM on 08/14/2010

Virginia has benefited from the last couple of BRAC closings. All the east coast carriers are based in Norfolk, and as the navy's capital, the state is well insulated from deep military cuts. The announced budget cuts are a good start. The elimination of military housing allowances would also be a good step.

[CDRUSNret]

10:19 AM on 08/15/2010

'The elimination of military housing allowances would also be a good step.'
HUH??? Do you think there is enough base housing and shipboard for everyone in uniform and their families?

[IfIonlyknew]

12:39 PM on 08/15/2010

Why don't we think about closing the bases we have all over the world and bring that money back to our country.

[gypsysailor]

10:40 PM on 08/14/2010

A trillion dollars would be a good start. Fire the mercenaries.

[rgateman]

09:26 AM on 08/15/2010

DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

[schatsie]

02:27 PM on 08/15/2010

Cut out all the contractors overseas....Let our own people have stable jobs ....oh I forgot, this is no longer a first world country with a family oriented working class.....

[tacevad]

09:09 PM on 08/14/2010

of course he likes these budget "cuts" since the money isn't being cut from Defense Spending at all but rather it is just being shifted to new areas(or old)

[palisades02]

09:13 PM on 08/14/2010

so true

[reveal5]

09:00 PM on 08/14/2010

Force modernization...Weapons modernization...The Armed Forces preserve and defend our freedoms. America is the World's predominant superpower. American armament, weaponry and training protect the world. We are dealing with mistakes from the previous administration .military men and women are in harm's way. That is clear...The American military provides stabilization to competing global interests. The American military deters agression. The American military is the leading component of global stability. The American military must remain strong for the interests of peace...in the world. Peace!

[rgateman]

09:28 AM on 08/15/2010

*bowing deeply* 'salami... salami.... baloney' - Bugs Bunny

[schatsie]

02:29 PM on 08/15/2010

Modernization, does that mean that the Boeing jobs will come back from CHINA????? God help us our defense spending is going to China along with our pharmacy dollars.....

[morgan1]

08:40 PM on 08/14/2010

This is military doublespeak. These are not cuts--This is transferring funds from one section of the MIC to another, so this is not real savings or cutbacks. Saving implies a surplus will be accumulated, and that is not the case. This is more BS but in the end, when the rhetoric fades, there will be no "cuts", but an increase in spending. This has been the pattern since Reagan and the militarization of our country is into every aspect that matters. That section is where the money is and they control the money.

[schatsie]

02:30 PM on 08/15/2010

You are so right, it just means more for the contractors and less for the GRUNTs....Less for the grunts.... more timoth mcvieghs.....

[mediamarv]

08:35 PM on 08/14/2010

First thing they should do is close the Marine Training center in Beaufort, SC... noise and air pollution from all the over-priced F35s flying in circles. Quality of life plummeting while the Navy ignores the wishes of locals.
Waste of money, J-P4 and increased health costs induced by stress. Lose-lose.

[habeass]

10:17 PM on 08/14/2010

Let's just dump on the Marine Corp HP. I would expect nothing less.

[mediamarv]

11:23 PM on 08/14/2010

Au contraire. Love the Marines. Just don't care for those needless flights causing so much noise and pollution. Simulators anyone? Those "touch and goes" are so old school.
If an Al-Qadea nutcase can learn to fly jumbo jets with a simulator, then why not Navy/Marine pilots? And if they need actual flight time and exercises, that's what Nevada is for. Look up Fallon, NV and see what goes on there.
BTW Beaufort is home to Paris Island. Perfect place for basic training and the locals love that base.
Next time, don't jump to conclusions here on HP. Deal?

[shutterbabe]

02:42 AM on 08/15/2010

Hello, Dear You- it has been a long time. Is all well? How is Alex? I was very happy to hear from you. Sending you blessings and gentle thoughts.

[LouGots]

10:48 PM on 08/15/2010

Boo-hoo. The NIMBY crybabies want us to live in godforsaken hinterlands so they can have a vacation paradise to themselves. Tough apples. Service-member satisfaction and retention are legitimate objectives.