It is absolutely idiotic when any of the words “cut,” “curtail,” or “reduction” are used to classify the new Pentagon budget. Yes, the budget does have cuts, but it is not an overall cut: the Pentagon’s budget is increasing by around 2%; not a significant amount in itself, but large when compared to where that money could have otherwise gone. And if so many programs are being cut, which, to Secretary Gates’ credit, they are, it would be nice to see this have an impact on the Pentagon’s overall budget. Instead, it looks like the Pentagon will never see its overall budget reduced, showing again that it is much harder to reduce institutions than enlarge them. We will become more dependent on the military-industrial complex than ever before.
Anyone who looks at these numbers and then claims that jobs will be lost and American will be more dangerous does not deserve 30 seconds of airtime or a column of an op-ed page. This represents a shift in spending but not a loss. A politician concerned about the health of the nation more than a few local jobs would support this budget; unfortunately, few of our politicians seem to like such expansive views. And why do editors and producers let their charges mouth such irresponsible claims?
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