Budget brief

From the DOD FY2016 budget proposal brief, take note of slide 5.

When looking at the threats and other statements, none of them justify additional spending.

Consider that bombing dirt insurgents at $20k or more per hour not counting tanker gas isn't stopping the ground advance of ISIL.

Hit and run raids by Rangers and similar would...actually...work.

Ebola? Not a job for DOD.

Ukraine? That is in Russia's back yard. And it is a conflict the U.S. State Department helped start.

"U.S. technological edge is eroding". Yes, fielding weapon systems that are a paper tiger  and based on obsolete requirements, does that (LCS, F-35, Stryker).

Recovering a "full spectrum" of readiness is not a challenge that requires new spending. There are more tired Division commanders than tired Divisions, Patton would say. Let me see the Brigade training schedule.

The flip side of that is already mentioned. Shovelling billions into failed weapon systems hurts training. Duh.

"Congressional opposition". Yes and no. Certainly the USAF does more damage to our air power stature by trying to field the F-35 and retire the A-10. Congress has not opposed the F-35 and has opposed retiring the A-10. One bad. One good.

There are "savings" to be had in there....and have a 2002 base budget.