Welcome to the 21st Century

7 April 2009



Google
WWW Kensington Review

Gates Wants Better Spending at Pentagon

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates laid out his budget proposal for defense spending for fiscal year 2010. He's going to cut spending on the entirely unnecessary F-22 fighter, mothball purchases of new presidential helicopters, and instead, he's going to buy more of the low-tech weaponry needed for the two wars in which America finds itself. He can expect opposition from defense contractors whose gravy train will be affected. Nevertheless, it is a worthy approach to defending the country.

In the coming weeks, the opposition will likely argue that the “defense cuts” endanger the nation. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) issued a statement saying, “I cannot believe what I heard today. President Obama is disarming America. Never before has a president so ravaged the military at a time of war." This is, of course, utter nonsense starting with the fact that overall there is an increase in defense spending. In fiscal year 2010, Mr. Gates wants $534 billion, up from $513 billion in fiscal year 2009. In addition, he expects to ask for increases on the 2010 figure in outlying years.

When they speak of “cuts,” those opposed to Mr. Gates' approach mean cuts to the programs they like. Yet what is the point of building nuclear-powered submarines when America is at war in land-locked Afghanistan? Surely, 46 Los Angeles Class subs currently at sea will suffice until the Virginia class gets built. As for the F-22, in what war has America not enjoyed control, not just dominance, of the battlefield airspace in the last 20 years? Does it make any sense to have both the biggest and second biggest air forces in the world (the US Navy is number 2 after the USAF)?

The wars currently underway are not the classic type of war that Europe fought for centuries. There are no concentrations of forces, no artillery to soften up positions before the infantry goes over the top, no tank battle groups. These wars are counter-insurgencies that require smaller, smarter, quicker units. Surveillance is vastly more important, and Mr. Gates wants an increase of $2 billion for just that purpose, including the purchase of 50 additional Predator drones. Special forces will get 2,800 new troops.

One can argue the pros and cons of each defense program, but what is significant here is the recognition that the Cold War is over, and that the threat is vastly different from what it was. America has rivals in China, Russia and other nations, but it is only at war with jumped up gangsters like Al Qaeda. It's a different kind of war, and Mr. Gates, to his credit, is trying to get the Pentagon to act like it's the 21st Century. One suggestion, though – end cost plus contracts. Running up the cost runs up the profits, and that's bad for the taxpayer and those who have to fight the wars.

© Copyright 2009 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

Kensington Review Home