The Sage Observer

Budget Cuts In Defense

          Expenditures for the military, globally, stood at over $1.7 trillion, annually for 2012–down approximately .5% from 2011, the first decrease since 1998 (ref. globalissues.org). If I have read and interpreted correctly, that’s for the whole world. The United States share of this was approximately 39.0% or $663 billion. No other country comes even close to us. China is the closest with 9.5% ($162 billion), Russia spends 5.2% ($88 billion), the U.K. 3.5% ($60 billion), and Japan 3.4% ($58 billion), if I've done the math right.

With this in mind, one doesn’t have to be an expert in defense spending to recognize ours as outrageous and bloated, especially in these economic times and the needs of our people. I see no reason our defense budget cannot be reduced significantly without jeopardizing the defense of our country. This said, in the course of reading an article from The Hill regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s encroachment in Latin America, i.e. Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, I noticed reference to a statement of  General James Kelly, Commander of U. S. Southern Command at a Senate hearing earlier this month. I assume he was talking about Putin and the Russians. He, Kelly, was quoted as saying, “They’re on the march. They’re working the scenes where we can’t work. And they’re doing a pretty good job.” He went on to say there has been a “noticeable uptick in Russian power projection and security force personnel” in Latin America. He then said,”It has been over three decades since we last saw this type of high-profile Russian military presence.” He went on to say that the U.S. military had been forced to cut back on its engagement with military and government officials in Latin America due to budget cuts. The Hill article also said, “The U.S. had to cancel the deployment of its hospital ship USNS Comfort last year.”

They’re working the scenes where we can’t work? We have to cancel deployment of a hospital ship? Are you kidding me? I must say to you. That made me mad, downright angry, as a matter of fact. I understand budgets. I know how these things work. I worked with corporate budgets and planning for almost thirty years; and, unlike our Department of Defense, we had up to date computer systems, integrated data bases, and an auditable set of books. Who are these people trying to kid? We have to cancel a hospital ship and reduce national security at our back door in order to reduce a $663 billion budget? What we are doing with this budget thing is choking on nats and swallowing camels. It’s past time to cut our defense budget and the most lucrative sources lie in procurement, waste, procurement, and waste. Oh yes, let us not forget procurement. As are the banks, the military industrial complex is blood-sucking the life out of us, and it is being done on the backs of the poor. I’m tired of it, and you should be too. Take a long look at the F-35 and Lockheed Martin, if you will. 

Ronald Miller

mtss86@comcast.net