(Army Times) Editorial: No more blank checks

[unhappycamper]

No more blank checks

Only in Washington can a budget increase be characterized as a cut. For weeks, the Pentagon had privately suggested the Obama administration would cut its 2010 defense budget by about $50 billion.

Recent news stories detailed with great specificity what programs would be cut and by how much. This would be big and potentially worrisome news — if only it were true.

It was actually part of an elaborate ruse plotted by defense leaders last year to squeeze the next administration — whether Democrat or Republican — for more money.

This outrageous maneuver was hatched last April after the Bush White House said it would not prepare a 2010 budget, allowing the incoming team to set its own priorities.

That sounded fair, and left in place the Pentagon’s projection of $527 billion, a 2.7 percent increase over the $513 billion approved for 2009, not including more than $80 billion in supplemental funding needed to cover war costs this year.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_blank_030909/%2e