Our own McQ takes to the pages of the Washington Examiner to discuss all the discussing of the defense budget. Since nobody wants to let a good crisis go to waste, the looming debt/deficit debacle is being used by many to argue for wholesale cuts to defense. That would be fine if we lived in a liberal shangri la, but we don't. So we need to make sure that zeal to find money for pet projects, doesn't cost us our security. While I support spending cuts in general and cuts in cost at DoD specifically, I draw the line at programs where such cuts cost us capability. That would be the case with cuts to the F-35 program. With China in the early stages of developing their own stealth 5th generation fighter and Russia well on the way with its fighter, cuts in our program would be cuts to capability and, in the long run, possibly jeopardize our national security. Intelligent cuts to costs at the Pentagon are a no-brainer. No one is arguing against them. However, cuts to capabilities are not "intelligent cuts" and that's why the F-35 program, among other programs that increase and maintain our combat edge, should be left alone. No kidding and yet we have to make these arguments to counter those to whom defense is simply a waste of money that could be used to do some social engineering. As usual we must fight their better instincts to ensure that the country is still safe enough for them to play in. Anyone who thinks the US will remain the sole superpower is a fool. Our own interests and those of the world as a whole are best served if the US is available as a force for good, with the ability to oppose tyranny. That requires the tools of a modern expeditionary military. Let's build them.

Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/ktwayKuX3tE/our-own-mcq-takes-to-the-pages-of-the-washington-examiner-to-discuss-all-the-discussing-of-the-defense-budget-since-nobody-w.html

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Posted Apr 25 2011, 12:55 AM by BLACKFIVE