Obama plans to cut tens of thousands of ground troops

[AmPat]

These are cuts being made over the course of a decade. It's not 10,000 people being let go from their service at once.

Lots of those cuts could be achieved by simply closing our bases in Germany and Japan. Germany successfully reunified without invading their neighbors, the Japanese have been pretty good allies since WWII ended, so maybe it's time to let them develop their own militaries and defend themselves.

All decent objectives. I know, why don't we just cut everything to the bone and just trust these allies to take up the slack?

[DumbAss Tanker]

If anything, this leaves him open to soft-on-defense attacks from political opponents. But even then, he has the rhetorical parry of high value targets taken out.

All done by the legacy force (Strangely, he has yet to thank Bush for building that...weird, huh?), not by the drawn-down force he is asking to create.

[Arroyo_Doble]

All done by the legacy force (Strangely, he has yet to thank Bush for building that...weird, huh?), not by the drawn-down force he is asking to create.

I am sure his critics will criticize; like RP says, don't be surprised when motherfuckers fuck their mothers.

[txradioguy]

Firstly, we aren't defending them Noon. We're defending our own interests with our bases in those countries.

Secondly, yeah those cuts do tend to come at once. The AF had to give 3,300 people the axe this year, and I believe it's occuring over a few month period.

And these cuts have much further reaching impacts then just simply propping germany and japan up. Boeing just announced their cutting 2,100 jobs. I wonder why that is?

QFT

[txradioguy]

Carter...Clinton and now Obama...those that don't learn from history...

[Molon Labe]

I find this unlikely. His "base" is sufficiently shored up.

If anything, this leaves him open to soft-on-defense attacks from political opponents. But even then, he has the rhetorical parry of high value targets taken out.

I believe this is just the natural consequence of winding down two conflicts and the purse-pinch. He really has no choice.

No it's smoke and mirrors. These are likely "projected" cuts. I'm guessing in 5 years the real budget hasn't really shrunk much. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have a lot of historical precendent to go on.

No.. you see.....many Dems thought falsely this bozo was the "anti war" POTUS and would get us out of Iraq. I know many who are leaving him in droves who were adament on that 1 issue.

From what I gathered he is now going to fight our wars like Clinton did...

From the air. Pathetic.

You can spend all the money on fansy shmansy tech gadgets...but it doesn't translate to training real people on land tactics. And even I'm for a smaller more agile millitary, but not at the expense of relying on technology over human action.

[Rockntractor]

motherfuckers fuck their mothers.

This isn't DU and few are impressed, I'm sure your mother would be proud.

[Tipsycatlover]

Anyone who thinks these cuts are based on anything other than to reduce our effective self defense is delusional. It was a clear message to China and Iran that he intends we be unable to defend ourselves.

[Arroyo_Doble]

Anyone who thinks these cuts are based on anything other than to reduce our effective self defense is delusional. It was a clear message to China and Iran that he intends we be unable to defend ourselves.

Are they cuts or reductions in the rate of growth?

[djones520]

Are they cuts or reductions in the rate of growth?

Cuts. Projected DoD Budgets are expected to drop to around 600 billion by 2014. It's not a slow in rate of growth when you end up below were you started.