Panel: Military to face tough budget cuts

[unhappycamper]

From left: Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel; Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson III, chief of Naval Personnel; and Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, Army deputy chief of staff for personnel, discuss budget constraints on benefits and weapons programs at the Military Officers Association of America’s annual symposium on Monday.


Panel: Military to face tough budget cuts
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, November 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders warned Monday the military could face tough choices between troops’ benefits and major weapons systems as the services face likely budget cuts next year.

Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told an audience of active and retired military at the annual Military Officers Association of America symposium that the recent economic downturn will put pressure on all branches of government to cut expenses.

That presents problems for the military in balancing health care costs, education support and other benefits with new, expensive vehicles and platforms. And, he said, at least in the short term that will mean more emphasis on equipment that is flexible and can support a host of different missions, like unmanned aerial vehicles.

"If we continue to try and strive for the exquisite on the material side to the expense of the adaptable, adjustable, modifiable, we’re going to be challenged," Cartwright said.

"We historically build our systems to a known threat. Where we are today is accepting the reality that the problems we’re going to face are unknown."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58899



uhc comment: Is he talking about the 'known unknowns' or the 'unknown unknowns'. :shrug: