Defense Spending

[Mr. Shaman]

The hustle begins.....

"Pentagon officials have prepared a new estimate for defense spending that is $450 billion more over the next five years than previously announced figures.

The new estimate, which the Pentagon plans to release shortly before President Bush leaves office, would serve as a marker for the new president and is meant to place pressure on him to either drastically increase the size of the defense budget or defend any reluctance to do so, according to several former senior budget officials who are close to the discussions.

Experts note that releasing such documents in the twilight of an administration is a well-worn tactic, and that incoming presidents often disregard such guidance in order to pursue their own priorities.

And with the nation’s economy caught up in a global financial meltdown, it remains unclear whether either Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., Sen. Barack Obama , D-Ill., or a Democratic Congress would support such large increases for defense next year.

“This is a political document,” said one former senior budget official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It sets up the new administration immediately to have to make a decision of how to deal with the perception that they are either cutting defense or adding to it.”

“What is clear is that these additional funds that the Pentagon wants to include in their budget and their five year plan are way beyond the fiscal guidance that OMB gave the department of defense earlier this year,” one former official explained.

Moreover, the new numbers are not aligned with any long-term strategic or budgetary rationale that might allow OMB or Congress to judge their wisdom or their impact on the nation’s worsening economic situation, the official said.

“The idea that the Pentagon Comptroller’s office wanted these additional funds has been fairly well known,” the former official said. “But there is little out there to give anybody the understanding of why.”

 

[The Scotsman]

Sensational news!!!!...................the military wants more money!





errrmmmmm.....the military always wants more money...... someone being an expert of the bleeding obvious

 

[BigRob]

The hustle begins.....

I know you like to think so, but neither candidate is going to do much in the way of cutting military spending.

 

[Andy]

Oh deary my! A government agency wants more money? Guys guys! Looket, a government groups wants money! Oh how shocking! Thank you so much for posting this incredible news Shaman! Without you, who would know a government agency wanted more money?! Spread the word to everyone you know! Government wants money! Red letter, call CNN, alert Africa! This is so ......... stupidly obvious.


Name one government agency that does not claim they need more money? The only difference is, this government agency is constitutionally the duty of the federal government, unlike all the others.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

I know you like to think so, but neither candidate is going to do much in the way of cutting military spending.

.....And, you're not gonna tell us who'll win??!!!

What kind o' psychic, are you?

​

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Oh deary my! A government agency wants more money? Guys guys! Looket, a government groups wants money! Oh how shocking! Thank you so much for posting this incredible news Shaman! Without you, who would know a government agency wanted more money?! Spread the word to everyone you know! Government wants money! Red letter, call CNN, alert Africa! This is so ......... stupidly obvious.

....And, attitudes....like your's.....is how they get-away-with-it.

You're a great American. ​

 

[BigRob]

.....And, you're not gonna tell us who'll win??!!!

What kind o' psychic, are you?

​

Yet another fine factual rebuttal on your part.

How exactly are either of them going to cut military spending? You may get a small cut here and there, but nothing more.

 

[The Scotsman]

....And, attitudes....like your's.....is how they get-away-with-it.

No the point is knowing that a government department always wants more money so you can formulate your policy accordingly. You manage their expectations.......thats the material point

 

[Libsmasher]

Meanwhile, in other news, Obama wants two trillion for pet projects, earmarks, and boondoggles.