The Deficit That Ate the Military

摘要

U.S. President Barack Obama's fiscal 2012 budget request is largely good news for the Pentagon. Though the $671 billion defense blueprint is 5% lower than the president's request last year, much of the reduction comes from the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq. Other modest cuts already were telegraphed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The Pentagon's core budget would actually rise slightly, to $553 billion, though not enough to keep pace with inflation. It is almost certain, however, that Obama's proposal will not be the last word. The president's $3.7 trillion federal budget, which includes the military funding, is an exercise in cowardice that puts off tough choices about spending, entitlements and taxes. Under the Obama plan, the government would borrow 43% of the money it spends arid continue to pile up debt for years, forcing it' to divert an ever-growing share of spending to service the debt.