Yesterday as I was returning from Greensboro, NC (35 miles away) after helping to stimulate the economy there by spending a few bucks (more than just a few, but whatever), I listened to a talk radio host offer his views along the lines that with the recently announced proposed cuts in defense spending made by Secretary Gates, the SecDef and the administration are essentially sending a message to the world that we don't care that much any more about "defense".
What was being said was (to me at least) somewhat laughable, because he seemed to have a lack of even basic understanding about what actually was being proposed to cut. I concluded that his views were that any cuts in defense spending would be unacceptable…regardless. Because, "we had to take care of the troops." As f we were not now doing so…since the new President had taken office, etc, etc..
What's being missed here is recognition by the public of the amount of money it's going to take just to replace or refit the items of equipment that have been pretty much used up since 2003, while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. As far as we engineers are concerned, just sum up the amount of money needed to deal with the tired and worn construction equipment fleet of graders, dozers, loaders, trucks, etc. How the defense department will manage those costs, in comparison with costs associated with new equipment developments, such as the Army's FCS program, is not going to be easy.
I'm not a regular talk radio listener (anymore) and it's the misinformed and often overly emotional and totally political views of many of those so engaged as "hosts", that makes me prefer good old country music instead. In that regard, here's my local favorite. KZNN in Rolla, MO ain't bad either.
