We Got Yer Holiday Spirit Right Here
Eat My Blog: Blogger Bake Sale Will Benefit LA Foodbank
Galaxy 2009 Season Recap
Howie Mandel Opens up About OCD with 20/20 Tonight
A Weather WTF?!: Storm Warning Issued for LA Region
Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks at news conference with Gen. James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A new budget proposal from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has alarmed individuals and families locally and throughout the nation. The "$534 billion budget proposal represents a 'fundamental overhaul' in defense acquisition and reflects a shift in priorities from fighting conventional wars to the newer threats U.S. forces face from insurgents in places such as Afghanistan," explained National Public Radio in last night's broadcast.
Part of that new focus means cutting out F-22 and C-17 productions, which has consequences locally. Boeing's C-17 production line in Long Beach employs 5,000 people, 1,500 of which that reside in Orange County. In total, those cuts would affect 30,000 nationwide.
"The F-22's radar system and other components are designed by Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems unit in El Segundo. Smaller supply companies around the area also draw revenue from the program," the Daily Breeze wrote in an editorial. "We're especially concerned about the possible end of the C-17 program. The huge transport plane, which Boeing builds in Long Beach, is especially useful for humanitarian supply missions in the Third World because it can land on relatively short runways. According to Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the plane has been a key player in supporting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Democrat Rep. Laura Richardson of Long Beach and Republican Rep. Dana Rohracher of Huntington Beach plan to challenge Gates in order to protect the local production lines.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
We can't continue to fund every defense contractor's outdated weapons program until the end of time just because moving the money to a diff program might require some layoffs.
$534 Billion is higher than last year's Bush military budget of $513 Billion. One of the things being cut is production of the world's most expensive (and dated) fighter jet, the F-22, in favor of buying MORE of the somewhat less expensive updated fighter jet, the F-35. Lockheed Martin makes them both. So, production at Lockheed will continue, just on a different course.
Rather than fighting for unneeded and unused military hardware, the congresscritters should be fighting for jobs in energy, transportation and green technologies.
Excellent point, the F-22 has never been used in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The money used to buy the more expensive F-22 could be used for better purposes, but considering the new administration has upped the defense budget, it doesn't appear likely.
Hopefully the stimulus boost will go more towards green/sustainable infrastructure.
ITA db. Having the biggest stick on the planet hasn't helped us in Iraq, Afganistan, or made us any safer here at home. It's time to invest in peace.