Army Chief: 'Plastic Santas' or National Defense?

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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...245.shtml?s=ic

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[Maytime]

Interesting tidbit about WWII spending in the article, I remember my great grandfather (CPT, US Navy) told me that people were asked to hand over any items they would not mind living without that the government could convert into liquable assets in support of the war. In his case he handed over his gold rimmed eye glasses, and the government gave him brass rims in return. I still have them to remind me of how America was back then, and how certain people today would scoff at the notion of sacrificing personal comfort for a greater cause.

[tk27]

“People, ideas, and hardware — in that order!” — Col. John Boyd

I hold much of the General's sentiment. However, I question the emphasis of the Pentagon procurement of big ticket items (ex: f22), how much of the DOD budget it eats up, usefulness of the items in current and future strategic environments, as well as capability against current and emerging threats.

Maytime thank you for your Grandfathers story, it is inspirational. Not to deminish the superior moral fortitude of the Greatest Generation; but IMHO they had a clearcut enemy, under an axis of flags, Nation-States with capitals and infrastucture, and a clear objective. Currently we do not, we are fighting groups of people that we cannot see, ideas that flow fluidly, there are no cities and infrastructure to target, no flags to tear down, and often we are pitted against ourselves. This does not excuse reluctance to sacrifice personal comfort, but perhaps it helps explain why, we cannot see the threat.

Defense and entitlement spending are becoming the bulk of our budget that runs at a deficit. Much of the other stuff is being privatized and pushed down to the state level. Our Government will face a crisis of legitimacy if, and some say when, they fail to deliver on the security and welfare of its citizens. F22's will have very little use against weaponized smallpox, assualts on shoping malls, and the like.