Tag: defense budgets

Irresponsibility in the Department of Defense

Many Americans – except perhaps the very small percentage nowadays who actually have served in the American armed forces – have a stereotypic image of "military efficiency" and thus assume that any cuts to the defense budget will make the nation less secure. In reality, however, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has the same … Continue reading “Irresponsibility in the Department of Defense”

Cut Commitments, Not Muscle

In that year of happy memory, 1972, George McGovern, the Democratic nominee, declared he would chop defense by fully one-third. A friendly congressman was persuaded to ask Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to expatiate on what this might mean. The Pentagon replied the Sixth Fleet might have to be pulled out of the Med, leaving … Continue reading “Cut Commitments, Not Muscle”

‘Widespread Pain’ of the Sequester Not So Draconian

Recently, The New York Times ran an alarmist editorial about the "widespread pain" that would be inflicted on the American government and people by the budget "sequester." If no legislative action is taken, the sequester will make across the board budget cuts (some exceptions exist, such as Social Security and pay for enlisted military personnel) … Continue reading “‘Widespread Pain’ of the Sequester Not So Draconian”