Proposed Pentagon Cuts to Face Opposition

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping up to $4 billion next year from two fighter aircraft programs.
....
Some in Congress have vowed to fight the proposed cuts in the National Guard. Its soldiers and resources are controlled by state governors unless Guard units are mobilized by the president for federal duty, as President Bush did after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"I remain convinced that we do not have a large enough force," Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Skelton is the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
....
The second would cut money for F-22 fighters during 2007. But it is actually a contract restructuring that would add that money back _ and more _ over the long run by stretching out the program for two additional years and buying up to four more aircraft. The new plan calls for buying 60 aircraft through 2010, rather than 56 over the next two years.

The Joint Strike Fighter engine is being built by General Electric and England-based Rolls Royce, and the plan to dump it has already triggered lobbying from as far away as Britain's 10 Downing Street, including a handwritten note from Prime Minister Tony Blair to Bush.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/27/AR2006012701421.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bush to Propose Trimming Army Reserve

Bush to Propose Trimming Army Reserve
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, January 28, 2006
(01-28) 01:08 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping up to $4 billion from two fighter aircraft programs.

The proposals, likely to face opposition on Capitol Hill, come as the Defense Department struggles to trim personnel costs and other expenses to pay for the war in Iraq and a host of other pricey aircraft and high-tech programs. Bush will send his 2007 budget to Congress on Feb. 6.

The proposed Army Reserve cut is part of a broader plan to achieve a new balance of troop strength and combat power among the active Army, the National Guard and reserves to fight the global war on terrorism and to defend the homeland.
(snip)

Under the plan, the authorized troop strength of the Army Reserve would drop from 205,000 — the current number of slots it is allowed — to 188,000, the actual number of soldiers it had at the end of 2005. Because of recruiting and other problems, the Army Reserve has been unable to fill its ranks to its authorized level.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/01/28/national/w010817S36.DTL

[ewoden]

2. The thing to watch for now is the following:

Does the reduction in the army reserve, really citizen soldiers, get funneled into other domestic paramilitary entities say in HomeLand Security. There are a lot of high ranking military who are still Constitution defending people. Is Bush sending a message to the Army, get with the program or I'm gonna start my own version of the SA?

Don those tinfoil hats and commence the speculation!!!

[ticapnews]

3. Since these soldiers don't even exist

he isn't cutting anything. There are only 188,000 soldiers and that will become the new maximum. It just means recruiters won't have to try to recruit those missing 17,000 soldiers.

[cornermouse]

4. I guess he regards the National Reserve in the same drain on his

economy light that he regards the poor, disabled, elderly, Louisianians and Missippians... But hey, he's your average-everyday-wealthy-from-birth-in-Connecticut-Texan that you could have a drink with down at the bar and that's all that really matters.

[gmoney]

5. Yes, he'll just activate everyone into the FULL TIME Army

"OK, all you guys off the bench and into the game!"

[maddezmom]

6. kick

[norml]

7. Bush to Propose Trimming Army Reserve

Bush to Propose Trimming Army Reserve

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping up to $4 billion from two fighter aircraft programs.

The proposals, likely to face opposition on Capitol Hill, come as the Defense Department struggles to trim personnel costs and other expenses to pay for the war in Iraq and a host of other pricey aircraft and high-tech programs. Bush will send his 2007 budget to Congress on Feb. 6.

The proposed Army Reserve cut is part of a broader plan to achieve a new balance of troop strength and combat power among the active Army, the National Guard and reserves to fight the global war on terrorism and to defend the homeland.

The Army sent a letter to members of Congress on Thursday outlining the plan. A copy was provided to The Associated Press.

Under the plan, the authorized troop strength of the Army Reserve would drop from 205,000 — the current number of slots it is allowed — to 188,000, the actual number of soldiers it had at the end of 2005. Because of recruiting and other problems, the Army Reserve has been unable to fill its ranks to its authorized level.


snip


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060128/ap_on_go_pr_wh/defense_budget

[stepnw1f]

8. Yuh... By Getting Them All Killed in Another Country

so they make sure less injured come home and cash in on their much needed benefits. I hate this administration. They are evil bottom line bottom feeding scum of the earth.

[Horse with no Name]

9. I am not completely sure I understand the implications here

But when the troops are stretched as thin as they are, cutting out reservists really only means one thing (unless I am misunderstanding)
and that is that there will be a draft and all the reservists will be rolled into full-time soldiers?

[norml]

10. They're lowering the goal in order to meet it.

"Army leaders have said they are taking a similar approach to shrinking the National Guard. They are proposing to cut that force from its authorized level of 350,000 soldiers to 333,000, the actual number now on the rolls."

[leesa]

16. Bingo! Standard CEO flimflam...changing their outcome goals to please the

shareholders. "We're meeting our recruitment goals 100%"

Will the foolish American sheeple fall for it once again?? We know the dunderhead Republicans will.

[VegasWolf]

18. Exactly!! Rumsfailed, "We have no problems." nt

[Posteritatis]

22. Woo! Lowering expectations to the point where they're already met!

[ribrepin]

25. Thanks

I couldn't figure out what kind of flimflam was going on here. I just knew something was stinking up the joint. Of course, the smell from Washington for the last five years is enough to gag a maggot.

[Renew Deal]

11. It's opposite day in Bush land.

What's new?

[Skittles]

12. WHO IS CUTTING DEFENSE, FREEPER ASSHOLES????

SAY IT WITH ME: R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N-S

[geebensis]

15. Where is Zell Miller?

Where is ol' Zell, foaming at the mouth and ranting "What are the going fight with, spitballs?"

[VegasWolf]

19. The new goal will be 5 people per year. See, they might meet that goal. n

[rooboy]

13. Bush truly is the Manchurian Candidate. n/t

[jimshoes]

14. It's called

moving the goalposts. If you can't get past the 20 yard line, you change the rules and make that the new goal line. See, easy peasy... 100% enlistment.

[ColonelTom]

17. Downsizing = kill 'em in combat and don't replace 'em

Nice to see Bush applying the corporate model to yet another aspect of our country. :sarcasm:

[Miss Chybil]

20. ROFLMAO! Unfuckingbelievable. It's just so... Rovian.

It's not about what it is, but what it looks like, remember?

[Straight Shooter]

21. Changing the rules so you can claim you're winning the game.

Even a child should be able to see through this.

[MO_Dem]

23. I predict that this will be a bigger loser for little w

than his social security privatization plan was, and I can't hardly wait to see if his approval numbers can possibly go below zero?? :woohoo: I am SO gonna enjoy watching this! :bounce: If they try this, Missouri will go BLUE, I guaran-damn-tee! :applause:

[HuffleClaw]

24. during 'a time of war' ?

sounds like some creative accounting to me. and this, right on the heels of news that the military is 'stretched thin' ?

[gunsaximbo]

26. I'm shocked! What a moron!

OMG! We need to be doing just the absolute opposite than what he is proposing! This man will be the death to all of us and the Death to America if he continues with this line of thinking!

[pdurod1]

27. I'm for the draft (lets get Cheney this time. No 6th DEFFERMENT)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

28. Bush to call for cuts in military reserves (17K troops, $4B from budget)

Bush to call for cuts in military reserves
Empty enrollment slots to be slashed, jet programs refinanced

Updated: 12:49 a.m. ET Jan. 29, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11080817/

President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping as much as $4 billion from two fighter aircraft programs.

The proposals, likely to face opposition on Capitol Hill, come as the Defense Department struggles to trim personnel costs and other expenses to pay for the war in Iraq and a host of other pricey aircraft and high-tech programs. Bush will send his 2007 budget to Congress on Feb. 6.

The proposed Army Reserve cut is part of a broader plan to achieve a new balance of troop strength and combat power among the active Army, the National Guard and reserves to fight the global war on terrorism and to defend the homeland.

Under the plan, the authorized troop strength of the Army Reserve would drop from 205,000 -- the current number of slots it is allowed -- to 188,000, the actual number of soldiers it had at the end of 2005.

[moondust]

29. Smells like desperation.

A bunch of war addicts hocking everything to support their habit.

[bemildred]

30. It is. nt