Gates Proposing Cuts in Military Budget

Gerald · 01-06-11, 08:06 AM

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is announcing the latest round of cost-cutting measures for the military, including a plan to do away with a new amphibious vehicle that can ferry troops to shore while under fire.The plan is aimed at staving off potentially deeper cuts by the White House or Congress by showing that the Pentagon is taking seriously a call to rein in the U.S. deficit.The Defense Department is responsible for the biggest piece of discretionary spending in the federal government's annual budget.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...litary-budget/

Note: Published January 06, 2011

Tessa · 01-06-11, 09:11 AM

The whole national debt has always bothered me (aside from personally hating finance and politics), for once why don't we (the US) play the bad guy for once and come knocking on other countries doors demanding they pay their outsanding wwii debts (and others they've racked up since)?

Total outstanding debt owed to us is 13.5 Trillion, current national debt is just over 14 trillion. We need to get some nice Italian family guys from New Jersey and New York into the State Deptartment and Treasury.

One day a pair of agents goes off and comes back the next day with 2 Trillion in gold. When asked, "how did you get all that in cash so fast?". "Don't worry about the details, just cross s,x,y,z countries of the collections list. Were gonna need a bigger plane this time, like a B-52 (gotta cruise in style) as we're heading to Asia. Gonna need to take some extra muscle and that group of guys who's names sound like something out of my toolbox along with us. Should be back with 4 or 5 Trillion, hopefully more this time." "These damn politicians think money grows on tree, and to get that money back usually takes part of that same tree in the form of a baseball bat. Incentive is the key to getting these deadbeats to cough up what they've owed us for decades. Lucky we aren't charging our standard rates for interest."

Gerald · 01-06-11, 09:34 AM

The idea of what you say is not farfetched at all, now is the time to countries that have received so much support for such a long time, open the wallet in return

TLAM Strike · 01-06-11, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessa

Total outstanding debt owed to us is 13.5 Trillion, current national debt is just over 14 trillion.

That is exactly why think that at some set date we the whole world should just forgive all financial debts previous to that date and start fresh.

August · 01-06-11, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

That is exactly why think that at some set date we the whole world should just forgive all financial debts previous to that date and start fresh.

I predict that idea will be a lot more popular with those that owe money than those that are owed!

TLAM Strike · 01-06-11, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I predict that idea will be a lot more popular with those that owe money than those that are owed!

The point is we are both. As Tessa said our debt to owed ratio is just about even.

Growler · 01-06-11, 01:55 PM

Military budget cuts.

Great.

Know what this means? The guys at the pointy end of the stick get shafted, and the defense contractors change not a thing.

Skybird · 01-06-11, 03:13 PM

You guys forget that the rest of the world for a multitude of reasons has pumped more money into the American capital market over the past 20, 30 years than there are any WWII debts or current US deficits and debts.

The US simply weants more military than it can afford by its own financial and economical power. Its economical resources, heavy industry and cars amongst others, have been relocated in the name of globalisation. One has spend much more than one had produced in fincial incomes, and a good deal for that, especially for the military, was investements that produced no future incomes. Meanwhilwe the education system has constantly detoriated while the power grid is said to represent the standard of a developement country.

In the past 600 years, practically all Euroean great powers and empires overstretched their military spending until breaking point. Practically all European great powers of the past 600 years went bancrupt over defence and war spendings. Some even repeatedly. The USA of today is repeating that megalomaniac mistake, for several reasons. For example it is thought that military superiority could compensate industrial inferiority.

The USA should and must give up the claim to militarily dominate all the globe. It simply cannot maintain that claim economically anymore. That means two things. First, the US needs to set priorities and needs to ignore hotspots that are not of direct interest for it. It already does a bit like that, but I think this trend will strengthen. Second, other nations, the European ones for example, must understand that either they give up certain military security interests being vital to them, or they take over responsibility for these, since the US will and can no longer maintain them all. The US focus of foreign policy already is massively shifting from Europe to the Pacific region anyway.

Adding to this the Euro-crisis and the flawed economic and financial design of the EU and Euzro-Zone, I think europeans are simply saying good-bye to playing a major role on the world stage.

What comes after Europe and the US, are China, India, Brazil and Islam in general - for better or worse. Most likely they will make the same mistakes the Western nations have made over the past 600 years. There is nothing new under the sun - except what has been forgotten since then.

Ducimus · 01-06-11, 04:21 PM

Well, the praise, "History always repeats itself" wouldn't be around for so long if it wasn't true. The combination of Iraq and Afganistan, in the long run, may end up having the same effect on us, that Afganistan had on the Soviet Union. Just pessimistic conjecture on my part.

Gerald · 01-06-11, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Well, the praise, "History always repeats itself" wouldn't be around for so long if it wasn't true. The combination of Iraq and Afganistan, in the long run, may end up having the same effect on us, that Afganistan had on the Soviet Union. Just pessimistic conjecture on my part.

But there is relevance in what you say,and for that matter, you do not need to have pessimistic thoughts..

the_tyrant · 01-06-11, 04:34 PM

you know, this morning I saw on a Chinese forum a rather interesting opinion: "Over there (America) they have all the committees and stuff, while for us one guy makes all the decisions. Democracy has a price, and surprisingly, its being payed by dictators"

I guess government costs could be further lowered.

Takeda Shingen · 01-06-11, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

you know, this morning I saw on a Chinese forum a rather interesting opinion: "Over there (America) they have all the committees and stuff, while for us one guy makes all the decisions. Democracy has a price, and surprisingly, its being payed by dictators"

I guess government costs could be further lowered.

What we need is less government. If history is any indicator, that is probably not what we are going to get.

August · 01-06-11, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The point is we are both. As Tessa said our debt to owed ratio is just about even.

Unfortunately it isn't that simple. I might be willing to forgive the money you owe me, but the people that I owe aren't going to benefit from that.

01-06-11, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

What we need is less government. If history is any indicator, that is probably not what we are going to get.

Another convert to Reagan. "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." -

Takeda Shingen · 01-06-11, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

Another convert to Reagan. "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." -

Hardly. Reagan was a big spender. Welcome back.

01-06-11, 08:06 AM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Gates Proposing Cuts in Military Budget WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is announcing the latest round of cost-cutting measures for the military, including a plan to do away with a new amphibious vehicle that can ferry troops to shore while under fire.The plan is aimed at staving off potentially deeper cuts by the White House or Congress by showing that the Pentagon is taking seriously a call to rein in the U.S. deficit.The Defense Department is responsible for the biggest piece of discretionary spending in the federal government's annual budget. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...litary-budget/ Note: Published January 06, 2011 __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

01-06-11, 09:34 AM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	The idea of what you say is not farfetched at all, now is the time to countries that have received so much support for such a long time, open the wallet in return __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

01-06-11, 01:55 PM	#7
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Military budget cuts. Great. Know what this means? The guys at the pointy end of the stick get shafted, and the defense contractors change not a thing. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

01-06-11, 03:13 PM	#8
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	You guys forget that the rest of the world for a multitude of reasons has pumped more money into the American capital market over the past 20, 30 years than there are any WWII debts or current US deficits and debts. The US simply weants more military than it can afford by its own financial and economical power. Its economical resources, heavy industry and cars amongst others, have been relocated in the name of globalisation. One has spend much more than one had produced in fincial incomes, and a good deal for that, especially for the military, was investements that produced no future incomes. Meanwhilwe the education system has constantly detoriated while the power grid is said to represent the standard of a developement country. In the past 600 years, practically all Euroean great powers and empires overstretched their military spending until breaking point. Practically all European great powers of the past 600 years went bancrupt over defence and war spendings. Some even repeatedly. The USA of today is repeating that megalomaniac mistake, for several reasons. For example it is thought that military superiority could compensate industrial inferiority. The USA should and must give up the claim to militarily dominate all the globe. It simply cannot maintain that claim economically anymore. That means two things. First, the US needs to set priorities and needs to ignore hotspots that are not of direct interest for it. It already does a bit like that, but I think this trend will strengthen. Second, other nations, the European ones for example, must understand that either they give up certain military security interests being vital to them, or they take over responsibility for these, since the US will and can no longer maintain them all. The US focus of foreign policy already is massively shifting from Europe to the Pacific region anyway. Adding to this the Euro-crisis and the flawed economic and financial design of the EU and Euzro-Zone, I think europeans are simply saying good-bye to playing a major role on the world stage. What comes after Europe and the US, are China, India, Brazil and Islam in general - for better or worse. Most likely they will make the same mistakes the Western nations have made over the past 600 years. There is nothing new under the sun - except what has been forgotten since then. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-06-11, 04:34 PM	#11
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	you know, this morning I saw on a Chinese forum a rather interesting opinion: "Over there (America) they have all the committees and stuff, while for us one guy makes all the decisions. Democracy has a price, and surprisingly, its being payed by dictators" I guess government costs could be further lowered. __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

01-06-11, 09:11 AM	#2
Tessa Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CG 96 Posts: 861 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	The whole national debt has always bothered me (aside from personally hating finance and politics), for once why don't we (the US) play the bad guy for once and come knocking on other countries doors demanding they pay their outsanding wwii debts (and others they've racked up since)? Total outstanding debt owed to us is 13.5 Trillion, current national debt is just over 14 trillion. We need to get some nice Italian family guys from New Jersey and New York into the State Deptartment and Treasury. One day a pair of agents goes off and comes back the next day with 2 Trillion in gold. When asked, "how did you get all that in cash so fast?". "Don't worry about the details, just cross s,x,y,z countries of the collections list. Were gonna need a bigger plane this time, like a B-52 (gotta cruise in style) as we're heading to Asia. Gonna need to take some extra muscle and that group of guys who's names sound like something out of my toolbox along with us. Should be back with 4 or 5 Trillion, hopefully more this time." "These damn politicians think money grows on tree, and to get that money back usually takes part of that same tree in the form of a baseball bat. Incentive is the key to getting these deadbeats to cough up what they've owed us for decades. Lucky we aren't charging our standard rates for interest."

01-06-11, 04:21 PM	#9
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Well, the praise, "History always repeats itself" wouldn't be around for so long if it wasn't true. The combination of Iraq and Afganistan, in the long run, may end up having the same effect on us, that Afganistan had on the Soviet Union. Just pessimistic conjecture on my part.