On first glance, there’s a lot of progress here. I’m in a rush, so I’m not going to do detailed commentary. Key bits: cutting ground-based missile defense, killing the Future Combat Systems vehicle component and stopping F-22 production. Big question is how much of this they can get through Congress. They’re still planning to do vehicle modernization, but not via a single massive program.
Favorite quote:
Some will say I am too focused on the wars we are in and not enough on future threats. The allocation of dollars in this budget definitely belies that claim. But, it is important to remember that every defense dollar spent to over-insure against a remote or diminishing risk – or, in effect, to “run up the score” in a capability where the United States is already dominant – is a dollar not available to take care of our people, reset the force, win the wars we are in, and improve capabilities in areas where we are underinvested and potentially vulnerable. That is a risk I will not take.
Also, while it’s not popular to say, it’s also money we don’t have for other domestic concerns that have a greater impact on American national interests than do what are traditionally defined as security concerns.
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