... Same as the Old Boss.

Another step closer to Armageddon. I’m certain that this good American will do everything within his power to fatten the coffers of the defense industries within his district, ensure his former staffers get jobs with these same industries, and perhaps even line up well-paid sinecures for his wife and children (one source claimed that his wife ‘earned’ almost $300K between 02-06 as a campaign adviser). All the time, he will be vigorously waving the flag and honking about how he must make America strong. His definition of American strength, however, is that of a selfish bully. He could care less about the American people, but just wants bigger and better weapons and defense contracts for his friends within the MIC (who helped to finance his re-election). BTW, this True Patriot has never spent one day in uniform.

Defense spending is at an obscenely high level, held there by a combination of Service interests, corporate desires, and congressional power gathering. The Iron Triangle lives ... divorced from national interest and uninformed by true defense needs. Sounds like this twit McKeon is in the pocket of the beneficiaries of all this squandered national treasure (and about as bright as the average R).

At some point, no matter how fiercely resisted economics and finance will prevail in the contest between what we want and what we can afford. Affordability is the true big battalion in the contest over military appropriations. Since we are not willing to tax ourselves to pay for the size of the military the only recourse is to use the paring knife. A certain ideological element in Congress don’t even want to ask the American people to pay for current operations in war zones and prefer putting it on the tab.

At some point the press of the balance sheet and income statement will force reality even upon the Dept. of Defense. The British of late have discovered that stark fact rather rudely and are in the process of shrinking their forces and capabilities accordingly through outright cuts and consolidations in order to align them with the actual economic capability of the nation. At some point the United States will have to do the same.

The problem is the traditional appropriations and procurement patterns of the past still reign supreme even though our economic viability has taken a tremendous shock and we have major competing demand for funds form the civilian sector. We must realigned our procurement polices with a realistic national defense strategy that we can afford. Attempting to fix the procurement process without a clear and understandable appreciation of what we expect our armed forces to do is futile. The fact is we can’t do everything all the time thus we must prioritize.

Less costly alternatives need to be found to preserve capabilities in the face of economic stress. For instance rather than allowing the Navy to squander billons upon a calamitous LCS program we could instead have them build new updated frigates on a proven design at a fraction of the cost. Rather than fielding three versions of the new F-35 (A, B, & C) we should focus only on the USAF (A) and USN (C) and drop the overly complex (B). The Marines don’t need the F-35B and the latest F-18E’ and F’s should suit them just fine for their mission. The Virginia class subs production might be slowed but probably needs to continue if only to preserve the very critical submarine construction industrial infrastructure.

The astoundingly absurd V-22 project needs to be cancelled at once and Marine lift instead supplemented by new less expensive MH-60’s. The disastrous EFV should be cancelled and a less costly and simpler amphibian replacement ordered. We could also retire at least one more complete carrier strike group while also standing down numerous USAF fighter squadrons and bases saving enormous amounts of money. Additionally, manpower cuts particularly in the over blown Army could be made if large elements if not all of their regular artillery and armor were reassigned to the reserves and NG. The regular Army and Marines should be a light and mobile force.

None of this is easy and each system has their proponents who claim that disaster will befall our national security if their pet project or arm is cut or trimmed. But nobody said governing would be easy.

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I never did figure out how war hero Cunningham could extort money so egregiously, without complicit crimes being committed on the Service side, or anyone on Hunter's committee staff being aware of it.