Defense cuts part of balancing budget

opinions

January 4, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Last summer, when the impasse over raising the debt ceiling had the world on edge, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta agreed that the defense budget could be cut by $450 billion over the next decade, an 8 percent reduction. He will show how to do the trimming without putting the nation in danger when he submits his department budget soon.

The screaming will begin when the details are put in writing. The military itself will strongly resist any cuts in salaries, pensions or health care benefits. Hawks will fight against reductions in the size of the military. Every state with military bases, such as Kansas, will strive to keep them and, if at all possible, keep them growing as Fort Riley has grown to the enormous benefit of Junction City and the area.

One of the budget-cutters’ targets is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon plans to spend $400 billion to buy 2,500 of them between now and 2035. They are wanted because their radar-evading qualities make them harder to shoot down. 

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