Defense Contractors Are Warned: Cuts Coming for Weapons

[Thom Little]

Everyone at the conference was hanging on the words of Ryan Henry, and it was not difficult to figure out why.

.......

Mr. Henry, whose official title is principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, said the Pentagon's spending binge of the last several years - its budget has increased 41 percent since 9/11 - cannot be sustained. "We can't do everything we want to do."

It was a message that the industry has been bracing for. The Pentagon budget, James F. Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing's $30 billion military division, said at the conference, has "been a great ride for the last five years." But, he added: "We will see a flattening of the defense budget. We all know it is coming."

The issue, however, goes beyond tightening budgets. Mr. Henry told the contractors that the Pentagon was redefining the strategic threats facing the United States. No longer are rival nations the primary threat - a type of warfare that calls for naval destroyers and fighter jets. Today the country is facing international networks of terrorists, and the weapons needed are often more technologically advanced, flexible and innovative.



http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/27/business/27weapons.html

[tsuki]

1. On another note, a Rep of mine recently buried his father, a decorated

WWII vet. His father wanted a military funeral, so the children complied. When asked why their was no 21 gun salute, the family was told their was not money in the budget for the 'caps.' My Rep said he would have bought the caps.

This is just a side note that I thought was interesting. I think we are in more trouble financially than most realize.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Also no buglers available to blow taps at military services.

I've seen military reps bring boom boxes with a tape of taps. That sucks!

[acmejack]

7. That has been the case for years.

It is not new. A unseen victim of fuel costs is the military, they expend a huge amount daily. During the gas "shortage" of the early seventies, Navy ships didn't have the fuel to go to sea, we spent a long time in port for that reason.

[Nomen Tuum]

2. Republican Red Ink will ruin us!

It's only a matter of time before China and Japan stop buying our debt.

[cliss]

13. Yes, that is today's truth.

I just read that in 2006, the U.S. will spend more on the military than all other countries ON EARTH, combined.

That's pretty staggering.

And yet, it's not enough. How can that be? Answer = because they're unbelievably wasteful. They just piss the money away, on contractors, mercenaries, stupid programs like the Iraqi newspaper "Hi". And things like that.

That's the Repugs for you.

[cornermouse]

4. They have a television channel to run.

I think our military is deep in the grip of PR firms. Not a good thing.

[teryang]

5. Spending free for all - Congress fault?

Yeah, that's it.

[IndianaGreen]

6. "been a great ride for the last five years."

A "great ride" all at our expense!

[formercia]

8. There goes the economy

Fearless Leader has been propping up a nearly collapsed economy with war spending financed with borrowed money. The cards are maxed out and there are no more Doritos. Sorry folks, the party is over. Now all the vets come home looking for jobs that don't exist........housing bubble collapse...GM and Ford down the tubes.....it's depressing. Fearless Leader is going to wish they hadn't stolen the 2000 election.

[kysrsoze]

9. Kinda goes against the additional $450B Congress just approved for defense

doesn't it? I'll believe this when I see it.

[seemslikeadream]

10. There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar

HOW MANY MORE GEORGIE, HOW MANY MORE?



Paddy's Lament
Well it's by the hush, me boys, and sure that's to MIND your noise
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration
I was by hunger stressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation

Well I sold me horse and cow, my little pigs and sow
My FATHER'S FARM of land I soon did part with
And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted

Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have ye's not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

Well myself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be making we were thinkin'
When we got to Yankee land, they put guns into our hands
SAYING "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln"

Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have YOUSE not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your Head
Every MOTHER'S SON of youse will get a pension
Well in the war I lost me leg, AND ALL I'VE NOW'S a wooden peg
And by soul it is the truth to you I mention

Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have YOUSE not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

Well I think myself in luck, if I get fed on Indianbuck
And old Ireland is the country I delight in
To the devil, I would say, God curse Americay
For the truth I've had enough of your hard fightin

Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have YOUSE not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

I wish I was at home
I wish I was at home
I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

--Sinead O'Connor

[sabra]

11. kick

:kick:

[punpirate]

12. This was predicted in 1990, too, as the Soviet Union...

... fell apart. In 2005 dollars, published yearly defense appropriations averaged $363 billion during the acknowledged Cold War (1948-1991). At the time everyone expected a "peace dividend," but appropriations for military and for war from 1992-2005 have averaged, in the same constant dollars, $370 billion per year.

No one votes against military wretched excess for fear of being tagged as "soft on defense." It's been that way for a long, long time, and until that attitude in society changes, it will go on in the same fashion.

From 1948 until now, the US has been spending about 3.5-4.0 times its normal peacetime budget. It will probably get worse before it gets better....