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Skinner

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10. Here's a link

Thu Jan 26, 2012, 03:24 PM

Jan 2012

Panetta announces plan for defense cuts that would shrink ground forces, retire some planes

WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders outlined a plan Thursday for absorbing $487 billion in defense cuts over the coming decade by shrinking U.S. ground forces, slowing the purchase of a next-generation stealth fighter and retiring older planes and ships.

In a bid to pre-empt election-year Republican criticism, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the plan shifts the Pentagon’s focus from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to future challenges in Asia, the Mideast and in cyberspace. More special operations forces like the Navy SEALs who killed Osama bin Laden will be available around the world, he said.

“We believe this is a balanced and complete package,” Panetta told a news conference, with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/panetta-announces-plan-for-defense-cuts-that-would-shrink-ground-forces-retire-some-planes/2012/01/26/gIQAITqTTQ_story.html

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Panetta announces plan for defense cuts that would shrink ground forces, retire some planes [View all] onehandle Jan 2012 OP

$500 billion, according to CNN. nt TheWraith Jan 2012 #1

Hope it's worthless weapons, not all staff. AllyCat Jan 2012 #2

There's not nearly as many "worthless weapons" as people think there are. TheWraith Jan 2012 #3

Barney Frank recommended idling the worthless nuclear saturation bomber fleet Kolesar Jan 2012 #28

During the Viet Nam war it was found that it was cheaper to give the VC 4 years of college and kemah Jan 2012 #4

My sense is that your observation is more applicable to later in the war. Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #30

Start billing Big Oil for the security services rendered. Old and In the Way Jan 2012 #5

Get rid of all the aggiesal Jan 2012 #6

On the contray. Johnson20 Jan 2012 #21

Are you saying ... aggiesal Jan 2012 #45

I'm skeptical. Lasher Jan 2012 #7

Or perhaps a decrease in a future scheduled increase ... SomeGuyInEagan Jan 2012 #8

I just can't get my approval around the term *cut* for this. A cut *should* SlimJimmy Jan 2012 #9

I see you are picking up what I'm laying down. Lasher Jan 2012 #14

...totals are about $33 billion less than the Pentagon is spending this year... Kolesar Jan 2012 #27

$487 billion in cuts over 10 years. Lasher Jan 2012 #29

Here's a link Skinner Jan 2012 #10

Thanks. I was just looking for a good link. You guys handled the editing function on DU3 perfectly. onehandle Jan 2012 #11

Obama just made a pretty speech. He didn't mean ANYTHING he said Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2012 #12

I think the WW-I era biplanes can probably use a rest. HopeHoops Jan 2012 #13

Only if you want the Kaiser back in power! Robb Jan 2012 #15

This'll go over well atreides1 Jan 2012 #16

A legitimate concern. Lasher Jan 2012 #17

14% over 5 years, not "14% annual" muriel_volestrangler Jan 2012 #22

Thank you for correcting my colossal blunder. Lasher Jan 2012 #24

You can do a lot of that with "prompt retirement." MADem Jan 2012 #26

Or we could simply deactivate the 87,52 reserve component soldiers currently on active duty? Lasher Jan 2012 #35

Here's how I consider it a bloodbath. When you sit across the desk from a young Sailor or Marine MADem Jan 2012 #38

Pay raises are on track until 2015. fasttense Jan 2012 #40

I don't know what the COLAs are but they probably shouldn't be reduced. Lasher Jan 2012 #41

That IS a downside of peace. Remember the "Clinton drawdown?" MADem Jan 2012 #18

It is inaccurate to describe that as the "Clinton drawdown." Lasher Jan 2012 #23

Well, that's why I called it the "Clinton Drawdown" and not The Clinton Drawdown. MADem Jan 2012 #25

I beg your pardon. Lasher Jan 2012 #34

No problem. I always called it the Cheney drawdown, myself, and got googly-eyes from people MADem Jan 2012 #37

I've shot down a boatload of chain emails on this very subject. Lasher Jan 2012 #39

+1!!! nt MADem Jan 2012 #47

And probably that many or more civilians Johnson20 Jan 2012 #44

Its a start. 4dsc Jan 2012 #19

Gonna be lots of folks Johnson20 Jan 2012 #20

That's a bad part of the plan. Lasher Jan 2012 #36

Corey Aquino kicked out all US bases in the Philippines. There are none. dmallind Jan 2012 #42

That's why I said, "...while increasing the number of soldiers stationed abroad..." Lasher Jan 2012 #48

what a goddamn lie. they aren't shrinking the budget at all! provis99 Jan 2012 #31

Plus, it gives whoever will be Obama's opponent the.... Amonester Jan 2012 #32

They aren't cutting the budget? SpartanDem Jan 2012 #43

they are slowing the rate of increase not shrinking the budget. provis99 Jan 2012 #46

Good start. Now mulitply by 10. That is your target to cut - 5 trillion over 10 yrs. on point Jan 2012 #33