Skip ahead to page content

entitlements.jpg

Cutting Defense

April 14, 2009 | By Nathaniel Ward

Heritage defense policy expert James Carafano believes that Congress is shirking its Constitutional duty to "provide for the common defense" by arbitrarily cutting and restricting defense programs that are designed to assure the long-term security of the nation.

In a recent Washington Examiner article, Carafano provides a cut-by-cut analysis of Defense Secretary Robert Gates' recently unveiled plan to trim defense spending. The future of America's defense capabilities—once the envy of the world—looks grim.

What do you think? Post a comment on the D.C. Examiner website.

Secretary Gates has proposed the following changes:

  • Cut funding for missile defense programs by $1.4 billion;
  • Cap the fleet of F-22 aircraft at 187, even though the Air Force says it needs 60 more;
  • Delay the Navy's program to develop a new cruiser;
  • Prematurely terminate the C-17 airlifter program, leaving us with insufficient air transit capability; and
  • End production of the next generation of vehicles, "leav[ing] the Army with fleets worn down by 8 years of major combat operations."

Gates' proposals are "penny-wise and pound-foolish," Carafano argues. Cutting funding for vital programs such as missile defense demonstrates a risky complacency about a very real and imminent threat. (Watch the trailer for our full-length documentary on missile defense.)

The Heritage Foundation's experts work hard every day to raise awareness about the importance of implementing national security programs to protect our nation. Protecting America is part of our ten-year Leadership for America campaign to get the nation back on track.

—Amanda Reinecker

Other Heritage work of note

  • Navy SEALs successfully rescued the captain of the Maersk Alabama from his pirate captors over the weekend. Dealing with these modern pirates "requires a firm response," Heritage's Jim Carafano says. "That response, however, should be driven by a sound analysis of the threat, rather than hostage rescue headlines."

    Writing on GlobalSecurity.org, Carafano outlines how Heritage's Maritime Security Working Group has worked to offer solutions for security on the high seas, "producing cutting-edge policy recommendations for making the seas safer for the United States, its friends and allies, and global commerce."
  • Imposing restrictions on commerce "threatens to make an already severe economic crisis even worse," writes Heritage distinguished fellow and former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. Citing the devastating results of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff during the Great Depression, Chao warns that "protectionist impulses do not occur in a vacuum. Other countries can, and will, retaliate."
  • Heritage expert Israel Ortega suggests a health care reform that offers Americans "a system that will largely mirror the plan members of Congress and all other federal employees enjoy." Such a system would allow families the freedom to select their own plans and let workers carry their insurance with them from job to job.
  • Many European leaders are questioning President Obama's support for Turkish membership in the European Union, Heritage foreign policy expert Ariel Cohen writes in the Washington Times. Cohen urges the European leaders to consider membership, despite the country's anti-Western drift. He argues that "strong bilateral security relations are particularly important for cooperation on the Iraq withdrawal, Afghanistan, dealing with Iran, and addressing a resurgent Russia."
  • More than two-thirds of Americans support increased drilling in American waters, which are estimated to contain at least 19 billion barrels of oil, Heritage energy policy expert Ben Lieberman notes. President Obama should "listen to the American people," Lieberman says, and devise an energy policy that will address our dependence on foreign oil, high energy costs and benefit the economy by allowing offshore exploration.

In other news

  • In response to increasing federal encroachments into areas of state responsibility, Texas Governor Rick Perry has joined a coalition in support of "efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states' rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."
  • North Korean officials have dismissed the United Nations' condemnation of their missile launch as "brigandish," "wanton" and "unjust" infringement of its sovereignty. The communist government vowed to end negotiations over its nuclear program and resume atomic development.
  • The Obama administration may soften the previous administration's stance on Iranian nuclear production. Under the new proposal, Iran would not be required to halt its nuclear program as a condition of negotiations.

Coming up at Heritage

To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.

Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Amanda Reinecker contributed to this report.