Defense Cuts

As one begins to think about where the nation might make sensible budget cuts to get the deficit under control again, the report issued in June by the Sustainable Defense Task Force (which can be read here) is a good starting point for reductions in the defense budget. The task force is by no means proposing that we weaken the nation's defenses, just that we put our money where it does the most good and drop some of the gold-plated weapons programs that really don't have a use anymore now that the Cold War is gone. For example, the F-35 fighter is now projected to cost between $89 million and $200 million PER AIRPLANE just to acquire (range depends on options installed), not to mention the enormous maintenance costs of such a complex system. And this advanced fighter is needed to oppose what enemy?????

Of course these cuts will be vigorously opposed by politicians who would lose jobs in their districts - and defense contractors have wisely put pieces of their most lucrative programs in as many Congressional districts as possible for just this reason.