Obama signs defense bill, attacks waste

[Turborama]

Source: The Hill

Despite deep cuts, President Barack Obama said Wednesday at the signing of his first defense authorization bill that there is still too much waste in overall Pentagon spending.

Obama praised the terminations of the VH-71 presidential helicopter and the F-22 fighter jet programs, as well as the “massively over-budget” Future Combat Systems, the Airborne Laser and the Combat Search and Rescue helicopter.

“Now, when (Defense) Secretary Robert Gates and I first proposed going after some of these wasteful projects, there were cynics who said it wasn’t possible; who argued that the special interests were too entrenched, and that Washington was simply too set in its ways,” Obama said. “Well, today we have proved them wrong. Today, we are putting an end to some wasteful projects that lawmakers have tried to kill for years. And in doing so, we are changing business-as-usual in Washington.”

But Obama stressed there is more work to be done.

"This bill isn't perfect. There is still more waste we need to cut,” Obama said. “There are still more fights we need to win."

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/65183-obama-signs-defense-bill-attacks-waste

[polichick]

1. It's a good start! k&r

[DavidDvorkin]

2. The defense budget is waste

That includes the parts that are hidden away in the budgets of other government departments.

We need to start from scratch and decide what kind of defense we really need. Then build up from there. The result would be something far smaller, far more affordable, and far less dangerous to democracy -- ours and that of others --- than what we have now.

[harmonicon]

3. agreed

For instance, why we have armed forces in foreign countries in any capacity apart from NATO or UN missions is a mystery to me. The amount of money that could be saved by basing those forces in the US alone must be astronomical.

[and-justice-for-all]

4. +1

[xc8mip]

8. Rest of the world doesn't seem friendly

Let's hope we will not disarm ourself just to face stronger competition later .......Power of Ruso-China alliance is getting stronger every day

[DavidDvorkin]

9. I said nothing about disarming

I said we need to begin from scratch and decide what and how much we really need for self-defense.

We also need to plan new programs based on what's they can realistically achieve -- and be quick to terminate them if the need disappears of they don't accomplish their ends.

Currently, we have vast numbers of wasteful, useless programs underway, and they get automatically continued and even expanded. I believe it was the DoD that came up with the idea of zero-based budgeting, but it never gets applied to the defense budget.

[xc8mip]

12. Recall Dov Zakheim

2003 audit by GAO (General Accounting Office) yielded $1.6 billion in "losses," money "missing" and otherwise unaccounted for.
At the same time troops went to combat in Iraq without body armor and mine resistant ATC's.
this is way beyond waste

[Cha]

5. Thanks, President Obama

and Turborama.

[Cha]

6. Thanks, President Obama

and Turborama.

[Grinchie]

7. Wow Great, cancel the distractions and leave the Black Budget unscathed.

Now if Obama had the balls to announce Family Day and public toours at Groom Lake/Area 51, maybe I would be a little more optimistic.

Nope, it doesn't exist, and if you don't believe that, we'll kill you.

[Baclava]

10. Don't worry - the $680.2 Billion he allocated will keep things running smoothly

Our back-engineering of the alien craft can continue.

[toocoolforschool]

11. i wanna see this change in washington! get it done!

[Mari333]

13. did he dump the monies paid out for the thousands of mercenaries we hire?

No, just a few programs here and there. over 600 billion for more wars more wars more wars. Thats why I dont get all weepy when he stands and salutes dead soldiers. hell, he's funding their deaths with 620 billion dollars.