All the smoke here about Gates as some military budget hero__ We'll see . . .

[bigtree]

He's due to give his briefing about his budget priorities at 1:30 today. His spokesman is already backing away from the notion that the Pentagon budget is all about cuts. He was out there this morning hawking the defense 'add-ons' in the budget to reporters . . .


Gates to propose US defense add-ons, not just cuts

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates will propose to add "a lot of" U.S. capabilities even as he proposes to cut certain arms programs at a briefing starting at 1:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said.

"He's going to be adding a lot of things to capabilities that we need to," Bryan Whitman told reporters.

Among other things, Gates will speak about the fledgling, multibillion-dollar U.S. missile defense shield, Whitman said.

Gates is widely expected to cut or delay some programs designed for conventional wars in exchange for boosting intelligence, surveillance, communications and reconnaissance programs that are designed to thwart insurgents in places like Iraq and Afghanistan . . .

report: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN0639949820090406

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Count me as extremely sceptical about any meaningful cuts in "defense". K&R

That's one immensely powerful lobby that the MIC has in congress, coupled with potential job losses in politician's home states.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Congress is going to be the big problem in getting programs cut.

[Kolesar]

3. Note that none of Bigtree's editorializing embellishments actually appear in the Reuters article.

eom

[bigtree]

4. embellishments?

Look at the budget just released and tell me how much we need the new fighters, carriers and the rest of the goodies proposed for purchase with our tax dollars. Editorializing, my ass.

[Kolesar]

5. It's a better use of resources...eom