Secretary Hagel blasts Congress for defense spending cuts

[unhappycamper]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/11/05/207564/secretary-hagel-blasts-congress.html



Secretary Hagel blasts Congress for defense spending cuts
By James Rosen — McClatchy Washington Bureau
Published: November 5, 2013 Updated 13 hours ago

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sharply criticized lawmakers Tuesday for imposing spending reductions on the Pentagon that he warned risk having serious impacts on military power.

Hagel, a former senator from Nebraska who’s the highest-ranking Republican in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, said his department had absorbed $500 million in forced funding cuts under the congressionally mandated sequestration system, plus $487 billion in reductions that were part of a 2011 deal to raise the federal debt ceiling.

“These cuts are too fast, too much, too abrupt and too irresponsible,” Hagel said in an address to a national security forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Hagel also criticized lawmakers for the temporary funding measure they passed last month – called a “continuing resolution” – to end the partial government shutdown that Republicans forced in a failed bid to eliminate funding for Obama’s signature health insurance law.



unhappycamper comment: Keep in mind that all this whining is about a five fucking percent budget cut.

[DetlefK]

1. How long has the Pentagon-audit been in the planning now?

[unhappycamper]

2. We're busy with 'other' things now.

Benghazi, the IRS, Obamacare, debt limit, voting rights, god, women, gays, and guns are some of the things that immediately come to mind.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Because, as we all know, "fiscal responsibility" is for poor people.

Not for national security state boondoggle billionaires.