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Subscribe to RSSThe Pentagon announced a new plan that will streamline U.S. forces, look at possible base closures and expand cyber warfare capability in order to meet tough budget constraints. NBC's Chris Clackum reports.
The Pentagon proposed budget cuts on Thursday that would slash the size of the U.S. military by eliminating thousands of jobs, mothballing ships and trimming air squadrons in an effort to shift strategic direction and reduce spending by $487 billion over a decade.
The funding request, which includes painful cuts for many states, sets the stage for a new struggle between President Barack Obama's administration and Congress over how much the Pentagon should spend on national security as the country tries to curb trillion-dollar budget deficits.
US Army chief 'comfortable' with smaller force as Pentagon prepares cuts
"Make no mistake, the savings we are proposing will impact all 50 states and many districts across America," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told a news conference at the Pentagon. "This will be a test of whether reducing the deficit is about talk or action."
Obama will also ask Congress to approve a new round of domestic base closures, although the timing of this was left vague and there is little chance that lawmakers would agree to this in a presidential election year.
Panetta, previewing plans that will be formally announced next month, said he would ask for a $525 billion base budget for the 2013 fiscal year, the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, that the Pentagon has asked for less than the previous year.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, outlines the main areas of proposed spending cuts during a news conference at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Panetta said he would seek $88.4 billion to support combat operations in Afghanistan, down from $115 billion in 2012 largely due to the end of the war in Iraq and the withdrawal of U.S. forces there at the end of last year.
Congress requires that the Pentagon cut $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years -- $259 billion will be cut in the first five years (2013 to 2018).
No, Obama isn't actually proposing to cut defense spending
"We believe this is a balanced and complete package," Panetta said, with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side.
Some lawmakers were quick to dispute him.
"Taking us back to a pre-9/11 military force structure places our country in grave danger," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee that will hold hearings on the Pentagon budget plan.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the Panetta plan "ignores the lessons of history." He said it provides for a military that is "too small to respond effectively to events that may unfold over the next few years."
Dempsey, however, said the military is united in its support for the new approach.
"This budget is a first step — it's a down payment — as we transition from an emphasis on today's wars to preparing for future challenges," he said, adding, "This budget does not lead to a military in decline."
While the timelines for each of these cuts vary, NBC News reports where the biggest cuts are coming from for now:
Benefits
Members of the military will receive full pay raises in 2013 and 2014, but their raises will be "limited" beginning in 2015. Health care fees for retirees will increase, including co-pays and deductibles.
Army
Active duty force will decrease by about 75,000 soldiers to 490,000. (For perspective, there are about 565,000 soldiers on active duty today and there were about 480,000 soldiers on active duty on 9/11/01.)
Marine Corps
Active duty force will decrease by about 20,000 Marines to 182,000 total. (For perspective, there are about 202,000 Marines on active duty today, and there were about 173,000 on 9/11/01.)
Air Force
Eliminate six of the 60 Air Force tactical air squadrons, as well as one training squadron.
The Pentagon will eliminate: 27 aging C-5As (leaving behind 52 C-5Ms and 222 C-17s); 65 oldest C-130s (leaving behind 318 C-130s) and they will divest 38 C-27s.
Navy
Retire seven cruisers that have not been updated with ballistic missile defense capabilities or that are in need of significant maintenance. Some fleet support ships will also be retired, and the building of several ships (1 large deck, 1 sub, 2 littoral combat ships, and 8 joint high speed vessels) will all delayed by one year or more.
The defense spending plan is scheduled to be submitted to Congress as part of the administration's full 2013 budget on Feb. 13.
Prominent in the Obama plan is a renewed focus on Asia, where China's rapid military modernization has raised worry in Washington and rattled U.S. allies.
NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube as well as Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced his plan for cutting $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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I would DEFINITELY disagree with the delaying of the 2 clitoral combat ships....NO freackin' WAY !!!!
TWO HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS on Afghanistan for 2012 and 2013.
its about FN time! the military has been gorging itself since 911. here are more suggestions: remove the 35000 troops on the s korean border and re-deploy them along the us-mexico border! hand the s koreans a bill for 65 years of free security services. close MOST of the 700 military bases the us taxPAYER supports all over the world. no wonder the world hates us! (unless they have their hand out) the united states desperately needs to concentrate on the united states and stop being the world's wetnurse!
speaking of wet nurses, we need to stop welfare and start taking care of this countries workers instead. If we didnt have to support the 50% of this country that doesnt work, we would have the money to sustain the military to provide the security we need to take care of the Irans in the world. Instead of troups, we just need to carpet bomb the people that do us damage and i dont give one @!$%# about civilians. All muslims do is hide behind civilians, so damn it, take the whole bunch out.
This is a nice down payment on the deficit but I am waiting for the announcement when they decide to cut the 200,000 or so drones that do nothing all day in DC. These guys are a joke, we need to cut a trillion dollars out of next years budget to to break even for the year much less start paying the debt down. Typical of a liberal, make retired military pay more for health care and the like while the do nothings in Washington get their raises every year no matter what. Start at the top with the potus and fire them all in November. Take back this country and the values that make it great.
Hope and change we can believe in. What a freaking Moron!
Hope for Chump Change 2013
lol. Nearly .5 (one half) trillion over 10 (ten) years. lol. I can feel the weight lifting off the next 30 (thirty) generations already. lol.
The US is throwing away ten billion a month on a useless war and that's their idea of cuts. As far as McCain goes,he's crying like every other war monger.
I agree with shrinking the US military I mean what good are that now that we have won the war on terror,the war on drugs,the war on poverty!
Yes we live in a golden age of peace and understanding and the military was something we needed then but with Obama's leadership and strong willed warnings all our enemies have run away and fear our strong nation..............Ok that was fun but really lets keep the military ,make it stronger and shrink the bloated Obama government instead!
I am waiting for the State Department to propose ending all foreign aid. That would save billions! Then we could tell everyone that not only are you on your own in defending yourselves (because as many of you have stated, it is not our job to defend anyone but ourselves), now you can also figure out how to feed and provide medical care, including birth control your own people - we are over it! Not our job.
Real macho talk, delusional and right wing, in other words: meaningless.
BUT TRUE!
Ahh the cluck of a chickenhawk-i'm scared protect me!!! LOL
we should just do away with the military. we no longer need a military and all that money could be spent on programs to help our poor , be sides with no military many countries would be more willing to talk and help the U.S. it would most likely put an end to wars, and there would be peace in the world.
You are really some idealist dreamer, kid!
Yes, I have often thought with no military it would be a wonderful place. We can all sit around a camp fire, singing Kum-by-ya and smoking weed! Wouldn't that be wonderful? All the other countries will look at us in awe then. When they come on shore, we can put flowers in their guns and TALK to them!
Maybe there will be fairies and unicorns too!
They are working toward a military that can only bomb the enemy---no boots on the ground.
Typical Democrat, lets balance the biggest part of our budget but cutting military jobs and funds. This war would have been a whole hell of a lot easier if we had the man power and equipment that we have today. But lets cut all of that and the next time we have to react to something lets be under staffed and under equipped, because their lives aren't that important. I think if anything the people who voted for Obama should have elected his speech writter instead. Please can we get back to having a President who is educated in military operations, or atleast listen to their 4 star generals. Vote Republican, not the "jackass" side!!
To all you idiots out there, and I don't care what party you belong to or don't belong to, remember two sayings that could save your life:
"Peace through Strength" , and
"If you want to have Peace, be prepared to go to war".
Without this, this country will surely die...................
Don't tell us tell your great divider leader Obama.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." (George Orwell)
Don't forget that one!
President Obama is my commander-in-chief, so I am not going to bad mouth him. But Congress--they really annoy me, whatever party they belong to.
Ha ha ha....... more and more everyday.... More job cuts, cut the military, cut everything, and then give it to the people that dont work, or in other words, Barry Soetoros voting base.... friggin muslim
Cut government! Military is but a part os government spending that needs cutting! When the private industry can not afford (the cure all mentality) government, then government needs to be cut! Simple!
Take a look at other countries. Germany, England, France and Russia for example. More Muslims there than their own national citizens. If you think that Muslims are peaceful then maybe you better read the Koran and see the real facts. They are here for one reason and one reason only, to take over and conquer the INFIDELS! Thats us you moron!!!
No that is you.
kill them all and let God sort out the good ones!!! ha ha
Millitary VETS get priority for all Gov service jobs as it should be, and are better qualified!!!1 O FO FO MO!!! MO FO!!!
In the dying days, Rome was broke....They could no longer financially maintain their Legions, so they brought them home from Empire and disbanded many of them....They had a choice to make between the cost of their Army and the equivalent of what were then Social Programs (Panem et Circem)....Fearing anger and loss of office by pandered voters, the pols chose to radically reduce their Legions in order to placate the people with the Social Programs that had grown beyond the point of sustainability...
Those who will not learn from History....
Bedford
Excellent read of history, my friend. Pandering to the rabble of Rome to keep their political positions, conastantly spending more to buy their votes spelled the end of that Empire. But the History of Western Civilization in a thing of the past in schools today. I doubt that kids would be allowed to read "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" anymore than they would be allowed to read Schirers, "the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich." Both of these books are becoming more and more pertinent in today/s world, I fear.
America has eleven aircraft carriers in active duty, all of them are technologically most advanced, and nuclear-powered. China has only one in the making, and they bought this one many years ago as an abandoned empty hull from former USSR. So why worry about the little bit cuts.
Cause republicans always panic!!!!!
simple phillyz...... its because we have muslims all over the world that want us dead. If you think China and Russia are our friends, your sorely mistaken there too.... with Iran threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, i just hope we have enough left from the democrats dismantling the military like they always do everytime they get in office, to take care of the problems. We need to stop sending troops, period. If a country is harboring terrorists, instead of sending troops, carpet bomb them and make the country into a parking lot and forget this @!$%# about "innocent" civilians. There is no such thing as an innocent muslim, as they are all bad, every single last one of them. Dont be fooled by their lies and crap, they want us dead if they follow the Koran, their pig sty "holy" book.
Since we are so broke, and all the budgets are being cut, why is the president proposing to send a several hundred million dollars to the current regime in Egypt (which is currently the military)??
So they don't attack Israel, because unlike the great orator, the Israelis have a backbone and Nukes.
I personally feel we should do away with the professional soldier and go back to the draft, otherwise people start thinking they deserve more than they have. Also, the american public should get smarter. How many people vote for someone they recognise instead of voting intelligently? The majority of americans are stupid and the rest are too lazy to vote intelligently. People keep voting the same career politicians back into office and it's no wonder things never change. DUH!!!!! Flush the toilet on Congress and show them you are tired of the self serving bastards.
Get rid of just one aircraft carrier, and you could feed all the starving children in America for a year.
Well...so much for the 'improved' employment numbers...