The “new”, supposedly triangulating and fiscally prudent Obama has appeared… or has he? With a nation so fed up with the federal spending, increased size of government, and an economy that isn’t as rosy on Main Street as it is in the Obama pressers, the POTUS takes the “cut spending” midterms message to heart, and goes for the military’s jugular. But Obama’s first proposed cuts to make the news are a mixed bag. Included in the WH demands to Defense Sec’y Gates is cutting up to 47,000 troops from the Army and Marine Corps forces, and raising the Tricare military family health insurance premiums.
To make ends meet, Mr. Gates also announced that he would seek to recoup billions of dollars by increasing fees paid by retired veterans under 65 for Defense Department health insurance, even though Congress has rejected such proposals in the past. And he outlined extensive cuts in new weapons.
The Pentagon’s proposed operating budget for 2012 is expected to be about $553 billion, which would still reflect real growth, even though it is $13 billion less than expected. The Pentagon budget will then begin a decline in its rate of growth for two years, and stay flat — growing only to match inflation — for the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years. (The Pentagon operating budget is separate from a fund that finances the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.)
“This plan represents, in my view, the minimum level of defense spending that is necessary, given the complex and unpredictable array of security challenges the United States faces around the globe: global terrorist networks, rising military powers, nuclear-armed rogue states and much, much more,” Mr. Gates said.
To be sure, the actual size and shape of future military budgets will continue to be reset by annual spending proposals from the president, and those in turn will be based on shifting economic factors — decline or growth — and threats around the world, as well as by Congressional action.
But for now, the Army is expected in 2015 to begin cutting its active-duty troop levels by 27,000, and the Marine Corps by up to 20,000. Together, those force reductions would save $6 billion in 2015 and 2016.
~~~But some — especially increases in fees for the military’s health-care system, called Tricare — require Congressional approval, and have been rejected before.
Proposals to increase Tricare fees will pit Mr. Gates against those in Congress — and veterans’ groups — who say retired military personnel already have paid up front with service in uniform. Ten years ago, health care cost the Pentagon $19 billion; today, it tops $50 billion; five years from now it is projected to cost $65 billion.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see the irony in this? Troops that are to be cut from the military will instead be Joe Citizen, pounding Main Street for jobs in an economy that has seen unemployment figures of over 9% for 20 months, and promises little hope for reprieve over the next 4-5 years, per Fed Reserve guru, Ben Bernanke. I would guess that Mr. Bernanke sauntered over to Calculated Risk Blog, and had a gander at the incoming housing bombs looming on the horizon… as noted in the various graphics showing the increased default mortgage payments of unemployed or struggling homeowners, comprising 2011′s onslaught of foreclosures.
The irony is further compounded by the POTUS who claims to make health insurance more affordable, while sanctioning raising the premiums for military families out of the other side of his forked tongue.
But the bad joke known as the Obama economy doesn’t stop there. Admittedly, while the Pentagon, like virtually all federal agencies, could use a thorough accounting house cleaning for waste, Obama has spent his time in office adding new agency after new agency for both health care, and his financial “reform”. Yet when it comes times to looking at cutting, does he consider his damage and increased spending in the health world? But of course not…. instead, he turns his attention to the defense budget, which is less than a quarter of all US expenditures.
Taking the military back to pre 911 Clinton days in this era is simply not a wise idea. Constitutionally, the POTUS as commander in chief is sworn, duty bound, to protect this nation. Our strong military has not only served as our protection, but is depended upon by an international community of nations who have substandard militaries and defense budgets to make up the difference. While we are not to be the police of the world, without our military strength the international conflicts over the past century would have pulled our nation into the dangerous net inevitably.
Do we need spending cuts? Absolutely. Should we also be embarking on austerity measures, like Euro nations? You betcha. But what and how we cut may make the difference to our very survival of the nation, as it was founded. It’s been a difficult enough learning curve, waiting for Obama to catch on that Keynesian policies is a dead end road. But now it’s painfully obvious that this Commander in Chief prefers his Community Organizer tasks over commanding a strong, superior military. And there is little room left under that proverbial bus for the soldiers who will not be soldiers in the wake of this, or the hardship imposed on our military families, who have sacrificed the most for our nation, with the increased costs of medical care.
you really are uninformed, i can not believe you have as little knowledge as you do and want to make comments about the military health care? have you ever been in it? or are you spouting like most people do when they haven’t a clue what they are talking about. don’t bother to answer this i will consider it delivered to the wrong e mail.@B-Rob:
So, just too really piss off people. The superiors of Military esp. Marines are finding very tasteless, unethical and un-American ways to reduce Marine personnel, as a way to help the cuts. They are putting up new orders and not alerting their younger Marines to these orders. For example: They used tell new Marines, new orders and actually used to stop them in there steps to question them to see if they have memorized them according to codes. This happened constantly as recently as year of 2009. Recently, since yr. 2010 the superiors stopped telling their new Marines new orders and keep the fact of new orders very light to knowledge. The Marine may even be deployed when the new orders come about, so they have not chance of knowing unless they are told. So, when a marine goes against an order that they had no knowledge of, they are giving them general discharges, not counseling and a chance, but throwing them out with nothing, real quick. When they come back from deployment, do they really have new orders on their mind or do they have the new tasks given at hand on their mind. If the new orders were so important to the superiors, they would have made sure they were told them, think about it. They don’t want them to know, purposeful deceit and omission. If they really cared about their deployed personnel, they would be trying to make the returning Military’s transition as smooth as possible.
So, not only does the marine loose all VA benefits, GI bills and etc (Saving money). They also loose their chances in life to have a successful career. They loose ability to pay for school. Even if they move to a state like Texas that give all Vets with honorable discharges free education, that marine can’t get it. And that is the thanks Marines and other military groups get for serving their country. Ruining that military person’s life over simple a budget cuts. And to make this expectable, among their peers, the superiors are using the tactic of divide and conquer, to get other Marines to have agreement on these discharges not knowing the whole story (until it is them ). When these orders loose it’s discharge ability, be sure they will create another quiet order and discharge some more military. Is this the American way? And can we as a nation hold our heads up with this knowledge, I think not. It makes me feel shame and anger to know Americans are doing this to fellow Americans. Because the Military are Americans last time I looked. This is a shame of Congress, Democrats and Republicans and the White House if they are turning a blind eye to this. Yes, I know all civilian careers have layoffs, but this career choice is different. The Military put their life at risk for their country, real different.
There are other ways to reduce military budget, then to ruin a person’s life. Offer any military person an honorable discharge with half GI Bill. Therefore payment of salaries, feeding and housing of that Military will go and they will be putting out less for GI bills. There are many Military personnel that would take this offer, simple. Especially the young ones, they would move back home with their parents, get health benefits through their parents (because of the age increase to how long a dependent can be one their benefits). They will have a little money to go to school, find new careers, their reputation, self-esteem will be intact. This is a better solution than the Superior military using fragrant tactics of deception to save their own job. Instead of saying, better you then me. Just get the cuts honestly, so that no one gets hurt. Care about your fellow American and hold your head up, knowing that you did the right thing. As for us, let all know we are aware and let’s stick together and fight for those that fight for us.
OLD TROOPER 2 , hi,
was said, HANG ON WITH THE WARRIOR CULTURE WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT’
I SAY, YES WITH WHAT IS GOING ON, THEY WILL NEED TO BE KICKED OUT,
AND THE WARRIORS WILL BE CALLED UPON TO DO THE JOB, TO SAVE THE CITIZENS
FROM THEIR OWN LEADERS INCOMPETANCE AND THEIR BELEIVERS AND ACCOMPLICES
IN THEIR OWN PARTY.
SMORGASBORD< hi, yes they should give their land back to the INDIANS TRIBES, and why should they pay taxes on the lands that belong to them before the americans moved in, it does'nt take away the fact
that they own it still today.
I just want the guys in DC to answer me one question:
How come the congress and the president are so quick to hack the military and other agencies but do not seem to make cuts in their pay and government goodies?
It seems like they would lead the charge in that manner. What do I know…I’m just your adverage black man from Chicago who served in the Navy for 23 years.
Jarome, hi SR, you have it completly pin down in my views also, they have many
ways to show restraint, and did not even consider it, they have been dining on the peoples money,
and now they should dig in their pocket before telling the AMERICANS what to do,
usualy in a company, It’s a top executive to go when the chips are low, and the ones who sweath under stay, what about the army of lawers they need to get them around the CONSTITUTION’s laws of the land,
the militarys should have the best to carry on the task they put their life on the line
to keep AMERICA safe, and free, and the ELDERLY AND VETERANS need some recognition to what
they contribute previously, bye
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As a Vietnam Era Vet we need the military to keep our country safe FROM ALL ENEMIES not just one or the other, so getting rid of the military is a very bad idea. But, what is even worse is have a civilian military like Obama suggested, because then we have mercenaries protecting our country and all it would take is for an enemy to pay them twice or three times more than we are and they would take over the country.
And, before you say the military is bound to one man or woman, I will say this, when you take the oath upon entry into the armed forces we do not pledge our allegiance to any one person, but to the constitution of the untied states of america.
Any civilian military we might get is only in it for the money and that would not be a good thing for anyone.
Anya Marie McDonal, hi,
yes you are, and the intent behind the civil army would probably not be for a good of all americans, but for the good of a special outside class of citizens that will never assimilate because of their ultimate
dedicatition to their ancestral commands which are to conquer the whole world and submit it to their own laws of servitude by killing those who resist, as we are now observing in the MIDDLE EAST
MANY INSURGENCYS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRYS, TO GAIN POWER BY DIRECTING THE REVOLTS OF THE PEOPLE BY FORCE, THAT IS SPREADING INSINUASLY TO WESTERN COUNTRYS AS WE ARE SEEING NOW EVOLVING
BYE