US military budget: How would you change it?

[Asher]

In that case if your observation is that Al Qaeda mainly attacks America, CONGRATULATIONS! They are our enemy!

I'm not at all surprised that this is simply how you view it. They are magically your enemy. You've no concept as to why, and you probably don't want to know. It's simpler to plug ones ears and say "it is what it is".

Or the Palestinians usually shoot rockets at the Israelis.

Yeah, there's no reason behind THAT either.

[Dinner]

Currently we spend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States#Budget_for_2010

By service, which is one thing to look at, we spend primarily on the Army, Air Force, and Navy... with some given to the Marines, Intelligence, and Military Wide parts.

Note that a large portion of NASA, DOE, FBI, Homeland Security, and International Affairs budgets could be considered 'military spending'.

I think that cutting back on the Army and Air Force are good ideas. I don't think cutting back on NASA is a good idea, unless we think that Private Military contractors can do satellites better?

JM

I'd be hyper draconian until the budget is balanced. End all new procurement ("No new toys until you use up the ones you have."), moth ball half of the ships/planes/tanks, end both wars ASAP, stop all new construction activities, and put the R&D budget on a strict diet (about 1/4th it's current size). Tea baggers want budget cuts so millionaires can get tax cuts? OK, there you go. I just gave you a massive budget cut. I would keep all the bases open though so that way when/if we ever have to mobilize and reform the military quickly then we have the facilities to do so. Other then that it's time for a fire sale on used military goods.

[Lonestar]

I'd be hyper draconian until the budget is balanced. End all new procurement ("No new toys until you use up the ones you have."), moth ball half of the ships/planes/tanks, end both wars ASAP, stop all new construction activities, and put the R&D budget on a strict diet (about 1/4th it's current size). Tea baggers want budget cuts so millionaires can get tax cuts? OK, there you go. I just gave you a massive budget cut. I would keep all the bases open though so that way when/if we ever have to mobilize and reform the military quickly then we have the facilities to do so. Other then that it's time for a fire sale on used military goods.

Can't mothball the ships, unlike other claims for "national security" secure sea commerce is absolutely vital for a modern nation. The Europussies are willing to freeload off the USN for that, but both the PRC and Indians have been expanding their naval capabilities because they don't want to rely on our good graces. It isn't the navy that is running the DoD budget into the ground.

[Lonestar]

If they were freeloading, what were they doing in the country to become targets...?

American arrogance never ceases to astound.

I'm speaking in general freeloading terms. It's the USN that allows the spice to flow and freeflow of sea commerce(using capital intensive items like warhsips and warplanes) whilst our materially deficient allies are more than willing to allow their commerce to be subsidized by our military.

Would you consider the 154 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to be freeloaders?

Nope. I applaud the Canadians for trying to punch above their weight class.

[Asher]

I love how full of yourself you guys are. It's kind of adorable. What would the world do without the USN? Canada would cease to exist altogether, I think.

Without the mighty US Navy protecting the shipping routes between China and Canada, we'd be ceaselessly attacked by Australian or Kiwi warships. :/

[Dinner]

Lonestar, we can still do the job with half as many ships. Besides if we ever really need more we can unbothball the others.

[Lonestar]

Lonestar, we can still do the job with half as many ships.

Really? We can? How do you figure? Because the USN says we're well below the threshold needed for that as it is(the USN setting a target of 300 hulls).

Besides if we ever really need more we can unbothball the others.

Horse****. We can't just "unmothball" some ships, it's something that would take months or even years. Besides the actual act of turning on everything and make sure it works, you'd need to form crews, which would probably mean a draft since no congress that's willing to abruptly mothball half the fleet would be willing to continue to pay the huge personnel costs entailed with both active duty and reservists.

This isn't the army where you just go to some climate-controlled armory somewhere, clean the rifle you're issued, and off you go!

[Lonestar]

I love how full of yourself you guys are. It's kind of adorable. What would the world do without the USN? Canada would cease to exist altogether, I think.

Without the mighty US Navy protecting the shipping routes between China and Canada, we'd be ceaselessly attacked by Australian or Kiwi warships. :/

Are you being intentionally obtuse?

[Asher]

Nope.

Can you please name the last time a US Navy ship came to the aid of a Canadian merchant vessel under attack?

[Asher]

Really? We can? How do you figure? Because the USN says we're well below the threshold needed for that as it is(the USN setting a target of 300 hulls).

I, for one, am shocked that the USN thinks they need more ships.

[Lonestar]

Nope.

Can you please name the last time a US Navy ship came to the aid of a Canadian merchant vessel under attack?

Asher doesn't understand that something that affects the commerce of other nations also affects the commerce of his.

I, for one, am shocked that the USN thinks they need more ships.

I know, right? It's almost as if they have entire offices whose sole purpose is to determine the needed force structure based upon the requirements set forth by Congress and the President!

[Asher]

Asher doesn't understand that something that affects the commerce of other nations also affects the commerce of his.

I understand that you are hilariously overstating the case of the Navy either as a stupid troll or fundamental retardedness.

I know, right? It's almost as if they have entire offices whose sole purpose is to determine the needed force structure based upon the requirements set forth by Congress and the President!

Yeah, when have bureaucrats like that ever failed us with excessive government spending?

[Hauldren Collider]

Nope.

Can you please name the last time a US Navy ship came to the aid of a Canadian merchant vessel under attack?

How many merchant vessels are flagged Canadian? Most are flagged under flags of opportunity.

[Hauldren Collider]

I think the US navy believes we need a different force composition that focuses more on lots of smaller ships instead of relatively few large ships. They don't think we need 10 more aircraft carriers, Asher. Is that accurate Lonestar?

[Lonestar]

I understand that you are hilariously overstating the case of the Navy either as a stupid troll or fundamental retardedness.

You don't understand much, I guess.

Yeah, when have bureaucrats like that ever failed us with excessive government spending?

Asher thinks force structure should be determined by IT goons on the internets. news at 11.