Budget Crunch Hitting Defense Hard

At a time when the DoD is run ragged by personnel and equipment attrition, the SecDef has proposed massive cuts in the budget, including major restructuring to the force.

By promising to drastically slash spending, the Pentagon hopes to convince the US Congress not to reduce its colossal budget. But experts say that may not be enough in a tough fiscal climate.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday announced measures to save 100 billion dollars over five years, including pared budgets for contractors, a cut in senior military and civilian posts, and closure of a major military command.
The aim is not to reduce the defense budget but to put its funds to better use, Gates said, stressing "the services will be able to keep the savings they generate to reinvest in higher priority warfighting needs and modernization programs.
"It is important that we not repeat the mistakes of the past, where tough economic times or the winding down of a military campaign leads to steep and unwise reductions in defense," he said.

By: Brant