Panetta Pleads for No More Cuts in Defense Spending: dire consequences predicted

[Karmadillo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/us/05military.html

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta effectively told Congress on Thursday to raise taxes and cut Social Security and Medicare before taking another swipe at the Pentagon budget beyond defense cuts already called for in the debt-ceiling deal.

In his first Pentagon news conference, Mr. Panetta, a former budget director in the Clinton White House, lent his voice to the Obama administration’s strategy of putting pressure on Congress to consider raising revenues when a special committee meets this fall to recommend $1.5 trillion in additional deficit-reduction measures. Mr. Obama signed a debt-ceiling deal on Tuesday calling for an initial $1 trillion in cuts.

Mr. Panetta’s argument was that defense had given up enough — about $350 billion of that $1 trillion over 10 years — and that further cuts would have dire consequences. He then segued into a brief discourse on “discretionary” federal spending, like defense, and “mandatory” federal spending, like Social Security and other entitlements.

“Let me for a moment put a budget hat on,” said Mr. Panetta, who is a month into his job as defense secretary. “You cannot deal with the size deficits that this country is confronting by simply cutting the discretionary side of the budget. That represents less than a third of the overall federal budget.

more...

[sakabatou]

1. Fuck you, Panetta

[CelticThunder]

3. You took the words right out of my mouth

[Lugnut]

20. +1000

The Pentagon has been wasting and losing money for decades. No other country in the world has a military the size of ours so who are we protecting ourselves from? It's all bullhockey.

[femmocrat]

2. Throw the old people under the tank.

No one will miss them.

[Newest Reality]

4. There has to be more!

Billion-dollar, big-buck "defense" weapons research and production. It will never end and the price only gets higher.

Gosh forbid that the military had to cut-down on its bloated waste and offensive posture. Please don't impoverish the contractors who are pulling-in humongous buckets of income via lucrative contracts.

Nothing stands above the MIC, so suggesting cuts is simply out of the question since Empire America has clear priorities.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. I've never heard a Defense Dept. supporter applaud cuts to the military!

TOUGH SHIT. Seniors need the money worse. It's time for our tax dollars to be spent ON US!

[RickFromMN]

6. Panetta doesn't have to worry. Boehner and the Tea Party will hold something hostage.

Any defence cuts will be restored in some Grand Bargain.

[Contrary1]

7. Contrary1 Pleads for No More Cuts in Medicare, Social Security, and Education.

How's it feel to plead, Leon?

[noise]

8. Iraq was a dire consequence caused by corrupt officials

lying to the public at every turn. Invasion. Occupation. Financing. Withdrawal.

This is what happens when government officials feel so entitled to power that they completely lose their moral compass. More funding for policies that serve only to get soldiers killed and maimed so some special interests can cash in?

[LetTimmySmoke]

9. This would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[Lint Head]

10. We spend 7 times more on defense than all other military powers combined.

Couldn't we just spend 3 times more and still be ahead?

[DJ13]

11. Oh suck on it Leon

The Pentagon has seen its budget swell by over 40% since Clinton, its time to suck it up and recognize you need to trim it down.

[L0oniX]

12. "Go fuck yourself".

[Jack Sprat]

13. It would be dire. Might have to quit pursuing war

as a consequence and opt for peace instead. But, that's not going to happen, Leon. Between the CIA and the Pentagon, our Armed Forces will always be engaged in 2 or 3 wars with another 2 or 3 on the horizon.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

14. No MORE? When did we ever have any at all in recent history?

[pa28]

15. He has no business saying he "won't accept" cuts.

He also has no business speaking for the President.

"It is an outcome that would be completely unacceptable to me as secretary of defense, to the president and, I believe, to our nation's leaders," he said.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/04/pentagon-chief-warns-he-wont-accept-spending-cuts/

The defense cuts in the trigger are the only leverage we have going into November and you just undermined our position. Way to go Leon.

[amborin]

16. you don't think he had Obama's endorsement?

[pa28]

19. He might.

Panetta's statement disturbed me on several levels and the president's blessing would make matters worse.

[upi402]

17. clinton republican pleads for what?

i must have swallowed acid somewhere

[spanone]

18. dire consequeces guaranteed

is that what you really mean, leon?

[Armstead]

21. Shoulda thought about that before this shitty bill was passed.

[hootinholler]

22. Fine. When you can pass a simple audit maybe then we will listen.

Until then go fuck Cheney.

-Hoot

[PVnRT]

23. This must be how they'll provide cover for it

It will be "necessary" to maintain defense spending, so there will be a "bipartisan" agreement not to touch it.