Gates to announce program cuts Thursday

[unhappycamper]

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2010, file photo, a prototype of a Marine Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle runs a test in the waters off the coast of Oceanside, Calif. Defense Sec. Robert Gates was expected to announce on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2010, that he would cancel a $13 billion plan to buy the Marines amphibious assault vehicles from General Dynamics Corp., in the latest rounds of cost-cutting measures for the military.


Gates proposing program cuts in military budget
By ANNE FLAHERTY | Associated Press

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is announcing the latest round of cost-cutting measures for the military, including a plan to do away with a new amphibious vehicle that can ferry troops to shore while under fire.

The plan is aimed at staving off potentially deeper cuts by the White House or Congress by showing that the Pentagon is taking seriously a call to rein in the nation's deficit.

~snip~

Gates was expected to announce on Thursday that he would cancel a $13 billion plan to buy the Marines amphibious assault vehicles from General Dynamics Corp. called the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

While a top priority for the Marine Corps, the EFV has long been considered a target of Gates as he looked to trim the budget. Gates has questioned whether D-Day-style landings are going to be common in future wars when the enemy is developing sophisticated weapons that can easily attack ships hovering close to shore.

Other cost-cutting measures were planned as well, including the delay of the Marine version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to defense analysts familiar with the plan.

[CBGLuthier]

1. They lose a few new toys. We lose health care and the chance to ever retire.

I guess this is now a fair and balanced form of government.

[dkf]

2. You were relying on the government to fund your retirement?

During the 1980s my high school economics teacher told me I wouldn't get anything from social security. I've never thought i would be able to retire based on social security.

[Sherman A1]

3. I paid into it and I very much intend to collect

I have been working and paying into the system since about 1970 so in a few years I expect to collect.

[dkf]

4. Yeah it's my generation that has to worry.

I fully expect means testing by the time I am able to retire. So it's either save a lot so you dont have to rely on SS or save minimally and let SS take care of you.

[The Straight Story]

5. They should not have to, if they pay into it as well. (nt)

[dkf]

6. I paid for my parents, they paid for their parents.

SS is an intergenerational movement of wealth.

[Sherman A1]

10. To a degree Yes, it is

It is also a social contract and not everyone will collect. Some of each generation will die early, some will live very long lives and some will go out on schedule.

That said the boomers did have things adjusted during that last "fix" to help cover their retirement so as one of them I intend to collect mine.

[jtown1123]

7. No offense, but I am pretty sure your high school economics teacher had no clue what he was talking

about. That lie has been perpetuated since 1935.

[dkf]

8. She was a public school teacher too.

I can't argue with what she told me. It was probably the best financial advice I had early on as I have been saving in my 401k since I got my job. I did a calculation of how much I would have had to stash away to equal what my retirement assets are now and I've never saved that much in a year in my life. And that is after the crash.

If I had put my social security money in my 401k I could easily retire and would be sitting pretty right now. But instead I pretty much doubt I'll have anything to show for it. It's kind of sad.

[Recursion]

9. The original AAV and the LCAC still work

The Corps needs a carbine and better comm gear (my old unit is still using the Vietnam-era PRC), but not this.

[Sherman A1]

11. Agreed & Well Said

I haven't seen a whole bunch of over the beach against an entrenched enemy type assaults since perhaps Korea, so one wonders just why it is we need to have a fancy new toy.

What we have should be maintained, but I don't think we need a new design.