If GOP Is Serious About Spending, Cut Defense Budget

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You can save several hundred million dollars a year by canceling the Army's WARSIM program. WARSIM is already a decade late in its mission to train commanders to make warfighting decisions. Yet, there is not a single WARSIM use case that is not already addressed by other tools. The ongoing integration of WARSIM with other models is not only burning tens of millions per year, but is also impeding the ability of already-fielded training tools to model new tactics, equipment, and environments.

Grant Kearney of KS 10:04PM May 31, 2011

Leslie Marshall, democrats have 2/3 of control now. Guess our 1/3 is part that's doing the work. You're 2/3 is doing the looking on.
But you're right, democrats did not pass budget when they had full control Oct. 1, 2010. Need backbone to make the hard choices. Can’t please people cutting programs.
Clears up why Nov. 2, 2010 happened. Come election, you can say, we laid back and complained. With our 2/3 of power...

Bill Hedges of MO 12:56AM May 26, 2011

This is critical, I know americans are getting tired of war, but if we let countries like Iran get nuclear weapons, these are religious fundamentals and they will attack us. We need to counter and the US is the only country with enough resources to counter this threat

John Christopehr Sunol 11:57PM May 25, 2011

Sorry I can't really add much to the uniformed vitriol which has been passing for comments here. In a time of fiscal austerity all budgets will get trimmed, including defense. Nimitz carriers are modern marvels but they are pricey to build, maintain, and staff. Like in years past, our wonderful services will adapt to being leaner. We already are losing a 5th generation air superiority fighter (the Raptor). It's unrealistic to believe that further budget trimming will miss the military. According to the military leadership there are plenty of places to do trimming without collapsing our ability to project power or defend our shores.
We do need to think really hard about what we consider for cutting now that the deficits created by two wars combined with an unrealistic tax policy have come home to roost. For example, our current national defense bridges may just seem like highway infrastructure but they are important components of national security. Good infrastructure is not some nifty social program, it is our bulwark against trouble.
If the GOP feels that the military budget is untouchable it is not serious about balancing the budget. That would not be much of a surprise given their inability to raise revenue to do the things that the government does best. Balancing a budget is as much about raising appropriate revenues as it is to keep spending levels appropriate for the tasks at hand. To try and collapse the government just by spending cuts seems to be an attempt to destroy the country which depends upon Federal Highways, canals, bridges, levees, disaster relief, border protection, military, diplomatic corps, pollution cleanup, disease control, education, science, etc. Cutting the strength of America plays right into the hands of our enemies and makes us less of a valuable ally. The national science foundation, NASA, and similar research entities are an expression of our national will to keep ahead technologically. One would have thought that the technological advantages which the best science give to our troops in the field today would not have been wasted on real Americans. Technological advantages are fleeting and even now we are in danger of falling behind. Keeping heavy industry in the country is critical. If we are going to stay strong it's going to cost. We can't count on billionaires and corporations. They care about profits not whether this country is safe and strong.
Thank you for an opportunity to comment.

RufferinAK of AK 10:55PM May 25, 2011

We cannot aford to cut budget on national defense,...it will be illogical and absurd;...just allow me to illustrate briefly.
I DID SEND THIS TO VERY MANY PLACES IN THE NET AND ALSO TO EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON, WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS, SENATE...EVERYONE.
HERE IS MY TAKE;
"Obama Looks to Limit United States Use of Nuclear Weapons, Even in Self Defense"
--------------
It would be quite incorrect to assume that Obama and his associates are 'selling out' to our enemies.
That is not what is happening...NOT 'SELLING OUT'..what IS happening is that THE ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL, ANTI-AMERICAN, ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, ENEMY OE THE STATE, TERRORISTS FRIENDLY-ORIENTED, CHICAGO MAFIA-STYLE CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION, IS SERVING ON SILVER PLATE OUR GREAT NATION TO THE ENEMY FOR FREE!
RUSSIA'S PUTIN, SAYS RUSSIA MUST PREPARE FOR WAR WITH "COMMUNIST AMERICA."...very intersting,indeed...isn't it?
I predicted these developements...allow me to refresh memory;____
Back in time I presented this;
USA AND RUSSIA AGREEMENTS ?......sure about this anyone?....any questions?
Does anyone feels comfortable with this?
Everyone should have this clear; - Obama, 'propagandist-in-chief', is moving for what he calls. 'UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT',....how that sounds to anyone?.....GOOD ?,...or BAD ?
Alright, check this;
It seems that Putin is coming back.Russians - already treamed-up with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela are in our own backyard.John McCain said back in time, not to trust the russians... however there is no need to hear that from him for EVERYONE KNOWS HOW UNCOMMITED OF THEIR WORD THEY ARE- HISTORY HAS VOLUMES OF EXAMPLES.
Obama and his gang is weakening our country in the economy, national securilty and in the entire scio-dynamic structure....THEY ARE TRYING VERY HARD, AND AS LONG PEOPLE CONTINUE THE INSIDE THE 'OBAMANIZATION PHASE' THIS WILL GO ON.
Now, if this nation becomes a third world -style country and/or another terrorist attack takes place ?….I really do not know where in the glalxy THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION (Obama,'their front-man', and all the rest of the weeds)…I have no clue where they all are going to hide their faces.I CANNOT REALLY CARE LESS,…IT WILL BE THEIR PROBLEM.
But most importantnly we are "friendly wih the enviroment"....until IRAN and others COCOZOIDS and WACKADOOS out there start poluting it with radiation of atomic weapons.And on that, THE OBAMA GANG CORRUPTED, ANTI-AMERICAN, TERRORISTS FRIENDLY ORIENTED ADMINISTRATION has a plan of UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT and we don't have to participate in the nuclear madness.
Although we can be wiped-out and erased from the planet ,...but that is only a small detail, right ?
DEFINITELY PUTING IS COMMING BACK!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Gerald Warner: President Pantywaist Restores the Satellite States to Their Former Owner
Well, the Russian leader was impressed anyway.
Gerald Warner describes the president's decision to turn his back on our staunch allies in Eastern Europe.
The Telegraph Blog reported:
Barack Obama’s chances of re-election in three and a half years’ time may be evaporating at unprecedented speed, but his presidential ambitions could still be realised in another direction. He would be a shoo-in to win the next Russian presidential election, so high is his popularity now running in the land of the bear and the knout. Obama has done more to restore Russia’s hegemonial potential in Eastern and Central Europe than even Vladimir Putin.
His latest achievement has been to restore the former satellite states to dependency on Moscow, by wimping out of the missile defence shield plan. This follows on his surrender last July when he voluntarily sacrificed around a third of America’s nuclear capability for no perceptible benefit beyond a grim smile from Putin. If there is one thing that fans the fires of aggression it is appeasement.
Despite propaganda to the contrary, 58 per cent of Poles were in favour of the missile shield. But small nations must assess the political will of larger powers. Thanks to President Pantywaist’s supine policies, the former satellite states can see that they are fast returning to their former status. The American umbrella cannot be relied upon on a rainy day. They have been here before. Poles remember how a leftist US president sold them out to Russia at Tehran and Yalta. The former Czechoslovakia was betrayed twice: in 1938 and 1945.
If the word is out that America is in retreat, it will soon find it has no friends. The satellites will pragmatically accept their restored subordination, without openly acknowledging it, and co-operate with their dangerous neighbour, ushering in a new generation of Finlandisation...
A pushover in the Oval Office is the best news Russian expansionists have heard since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/09/gerald-warner-president-pantywaist.html
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/09/medvedev-admits-he-influenced-obama-on.html
Need I say more? And there you have in short, now anyone interested can go into details.
AS COROLARY;____
It would be quite incorrect to assume that Obama and his associates are 'selling out' to our enemies.
That is not what is happening...NOT 'SELLING OUT'..what IS happening is that THE ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL, ANTI-AMERICAN, ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, ENEMY OE THE STATE, TERRORISTS FRIENDLY-ORIENTED, CHICAGO MAFIA-STYLE CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION, IS SERVING ON SILVER PLATE OUR GREAT NATION TO THE ENEMY FOR FREE!
Does this constitute the core of the 'deal' ?
_____________________________________________
Tentative Inspection Program Would Allow Russia to Visit U.S. Nuclear Sites
The plan, which Fox News has learned was agreed to in principle during negotiations, would constitute the most intrusive weapons inspection program the U.S. has ever accepted.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/13/tentative-inspection-program-allow-russia-visit-nuclear-sites/
_________________________-
Because if that is the case...this is a move that has to do with TREASON
I sent this to many,many,many liberal democrat sites in the NET and (of course)...for THE CAN'T STAND THE TRUTH!____
THIS IS WHY- THE OBAMA GANG IS A GROUP OF WELL ORGANIZED ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE / ENEMIES OF THE STATE....A BAND OF TRAITORS!;____
Just check this one out;-
Obama Officially Abandons Missile Defense in Europe
Posted August 27th, 2009 at 12.45pm in Protect America.
According to the Polish daily, Gazeta Wyborcza, sources in the United States have confirmed that the Obama administration has made the decision to abandon our anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic____
NATIONAL DEFENSE DOWN THE TUBES;______F-22 AIR DEFENSE UNITS ARE GOING DOWN !
NATIONAL DEFENSE DOWN THE TUBES!
Originally experts in The Air Force tagged The F-22 (twin engine air defense tactical unit) as highly effective for the next incoming 25 years for Air Defense Superiority ,.... along with the F-35 (single engine) as correlated tactical factor to take enemy nuclear posts.
But now, thanks to THE OBAMA GANG this defense asset is out of our NATIONAL DEFENSE ARRAY. In other words, this ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL, ANTI-AMERICAN, ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE / ENEMY OF THE STATE, TERRORIST FRIENDLY-ORIENTED CORRUPTED ADMINISTRATION IS FUNDAMENTALLY WEAKENING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY....THAT FROM ANY ANGLE IS TREASON!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-22_Raptor
From THE WASHINGTON POST;___
"...F-22 Has Major Shortcomings
Confidential Pentagon tests reveal reliability problems with the high-priced fighter jet.
R. Jeffrey Smith ..."
In reallity Iran is a threat and also Russia. Iran is building the weapons to wipe-out ISRAEL AND WHOEVER IS AN 'INFIDEL',...once they finish the preparations is " ADIOS AMIGOS ISRAEL " ....and as for the rest of the free world - including UNITED STATES,...they do not need missiles system to nuke....a can of COCA-COLA is good enough to transport a lethal nuclear material to blow anything to kindom come,....and, on that,... remember the case of COLORADO-NEW YORK PLOT for is a good indication of a real nasty threat.
And by the way DO NOT give any credit to the OBAMA FAKE -AMERICAN ADMININSTRATION,... FOR IS / WAS LEFT OF THE BUSH-CHENNEY SECURITY ARRAY WHAT SAVE THE DAY....THERE IS NO 'OBAMA-NAPOLITANO SIGNATURE' ON THIS ONE.
If anyone think that this virtually unilateral disarmament will work ?,...think again!.The missiles system out of Poland and Checz, and others countries is bogus for RUSSIA IS NEAR BY AND RUSSIA ALREADY HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND IS NOT INTERSETED IN REDUCE THEM. In addition, RUSSIA IS PROVIDING SURFACE-TO-AIR ROCKETS TO IRAN FOR PROTECTION OF NUCLEAR PLANTS PRODUCING (REFINERING) MATERIAL FOR WEAPONS.
So, indirectly (and directly) - is against Israel and directly promoting chaos isn the middle east, is it not?
Putin is coming back to re-implant THE KGB OLD KREMLIN SYSTEM TYRANY,...and is teaming-up with CHAVEZ, CASTRO, ORTEGA, and others in our own back yard.
To all this (and more) OBAMA IS A FACILITATOR.
Now, ...What kind of leadership is in Washington right now?... Pro-american,...or Anti-american?....PATRIOTS?...or....TRAITORS?... Can the american public trust them?
And there is a lot more to this....oh! yes!....BY BAGS!.... but let's stop here for now.
Input anyone? Opinions welcome.
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville,Indiana

Daniel Cabrera of IN 10:36PM May 25, 2011

“In June 2009, President Obama said, “Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin.”
Among other factors, Lawyer obama, Acorn, and Bill Clinton caused this recession. And Bush tried to stop recession and he started year he was elected:
“Obama & ACORN”
http://theobamafile.com/obamaacorn.htm
_____
“Democrats caused the recession and Republicans tried to stop it”
http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/democrats-caused-the-recession-and-republicans-tried-to-stop-it/
_____
“Pelosi Caught In Major Lie- Says Bush Didn't Warn Congress About Financial Crisis"… “Records Show He Warned Congress 17 Times in 2008 Alone”
http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2010/05/pelosi-caught-in-major-lie-says-bush-didnt-warn-congress-about-financial-crisis-records-show-he-warned-congress-17-in-2008-alone/

Bill Hedges of MO 9:41PM May 25, 2011

The military industrial complex has washington and by extension all Americans completely subordinated. We will never reap any returns from the money we are borrowing and squandering to keep it greased. What good is a trillion dollar war machine if your economy is in ruins. Your schools are tenth rate. Your health care system only works for the rich. Transportation systems and infrastructure are either non-existant or crumbling. Global warming is eating your lunch. Do you still want to borrow 90 billion dollars every six months to fight goat ropers in Afghanistan? Our leaders have sold us out. The wing-nuts have used their skews values to subvert our priorities and values. We can't afford anymore rightwing dummies in the whitehouse.

Beware the military industrial complex of CO 8:36PM May 25, 2011

junior quotes your leader Barack Hussein Obama II that contradicts what you wrote:
“"In June 2009, President Obama said, “Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin.”
DEE wrote:
“SSI and Medi payroll deductions are insurance premium payments, just like insurance you pay for your car. You pay in, they cover benefits as needed. Per capita expenses are half what they are with private insurers”
_____
Dee writes “The Right wants to confuse Medicare (for seniors) with Medicaide (for the poor) and throw both under the bus”
obamacare throws many into State medicaid with little funding that last only a short while.
"cuts in payments to doctors and hospitals under Medicare as provided in current law due to Obamacare and President Obama’s Medicare reimbursement policies is $15 trillion!"
"These Medicare cuts were the foundation for CBO finding that Obamacare would actually reduce the deficit, despite adopting or expanding three entitlement programs.
"Medicare’s Chief Actuary reports that even before these cuts already two-thirds of hospitals were losing money on Medicare patients."
"The unworkable, draconian effect of these Medicare cuts is why the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a disclaimer..."
Unlike Ryan’s careful Medicare reforms, these draconian, unworkable, Obamacare cuts to Medicare apply to seniors already retired today. Ryan exempts from any change all seniors retired today and everyone over age 55. On these grounds alone, Ryan’s Medicare is better for today’s seniors than Medicare under Obamacare.
That will involve an additional $500 billion in Medicare cuts for today’s seniors by 2023, “and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that,” in Obama’s own words.
"Obama proposed to give even more power to the unelected, unaccountable, Washington bureaucrats on his Commission to cut Medicare further, by undemocratic automatic sequester that bypasses Congress entirely."
"Seniors would do far better each choosing their own health insurers themselves in a competitive marketplace, which is the system that has generated the highest standard of living in the world in America for all goods and services."
"Even President Obama was forced to admit before the Facebook audience that the Ryan Medicare plan “will control costs, except if you get sick and the policy that you bought doesn’t cover what you’ve got….If you’re somebody who’s older and has a pre-existing condition, insurance companies won’t take you.” But that’s not how the private insurance companies under Medicare Advantage work. Nor is that true of the private Medigap plans, whose sellers include AARP, central players in Obama’s own political machine."
http://blogs.forbes.com/peterferrara/2011/04/28/paul-ryan-medicare-better-than-obamas/
http://www.912superseniors.org/2011/05/why-paul-ryans-medicare-is-so-much-better-than-obamas/

Bill Hedges of MO 8:05PM May 25, 2011

Glad someone with a brain who is not brainwashed by the wingnuts wrote an article that speaks truth (I know the GOP/TP hates that...)
Over one half of our IRS tax bill goes to the military/defense contractors. The rest goes to schools, roads, meat inspectors, airport security, ports and transportation, communications network, bridges, National Guard, FEMA emergency services, CIA, FBI, state police, border patrol, FDA, military hospitals and their family coverage, Center for Disease Control, etc etc..... A tiny fraction goes to education, public health for the poor, and a tiny piece to public radio, etc.
SSI and Medi payroll deductions are insurance premium payments, just like insurance you pay for your car. You pay in, they cover benefits as needed. Per capita expenses are half what they are with private insurers.
So - SSI and Medicare are NOT causes of the budget shortfall. They pay for themselves, and have for decades.
Unemployment benefits are also insurance ayments - we have deductions from our paychecks for these premiums too, and like any insurance, these policies pay out when unemployment benefits are warranted.
The Right wants to confuse Medicare (for seniors) with Medicaide (for the poor) and throw both under the bus.
The budget shortfall is DEFENSE and Medicaide (Obama was discussing this - not a current Medicare shortfall. He said we would have a Medicare shortfall in the future!!) and tax rates that have been cut unreasonably low.
Don't be dummies everyone and believe that SSI and Medicare are a budget problem. Let's make some REAL cuts in the areas where we have increased spending dramatically since Clinton balanced the budget....and Bush inherited a surplus....
I agree - cut defense, raise taxes back to Clinton rates, get rid of subsidies to any company that has over a specific threshold of revenues (like Exxon?),etc. My family is in oil - and they live VERY WELL. A pay cut wouldn't hurt them one bit.....
The GOP needs to quit sobbing for big subsidies and take care of the working people in this nation.

DeeToo of SC 5:29PM May 25, 2011

"In June 2009, President Obama said, “Medicare and Medicaid are the single biggest drivers of the federal deficit and the federal debt by a huge margin.”
And it is due to get even worse if they are not reigned in:
""If you look past the next eight to 10 years, Medicare is the deficit problem," says Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former head of the Congressional Budget Office. "And there's simply no way we can address our fiscal problems without coming to terms with Medicare's future."
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131701211/medicare-key-to-conquering-deficit-dilemma
Yes, from NPR - the Left's favorite spin organization.
Military spending on the 2 wars since 2001: 1.28 trillion (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf - that's the Defense Department figures)
Obama's deficit spending to date: about 9.8% of GDP (Bush was about 3%) for a total of around 4.5 trillion - more than all other Presidents put together.
And he proposes adding at least another 4.5 trillion over the next few years.
No. The military budget IS NOT the driving factor in our budget problems.

junior of DC 2:28PM May 25, 2011