Cutting remarks

TO CONGRESS. For all Washington’s talk of Pentagon acquisition reform, congressmen from both sides of the house immediately ignored the steps this budget takes toward that goal and rushed to protect multibillion dollar programs in their constituencies. So much for spending control. As Gates said, it’s one thing to speak of reform; quite another to make the tough choices that reform demands. Also disgraceful were the false cries of “defense cuts.” Fact: The 2010 proposal of $534 billion represents a 4 percent increase over the 2009 budget. If congressmen were truly as interested in getting the best deal for soldiers, sailors and airmen as they were in bringing federal cash to their districts, they’d laud the substantial increase in money this budget allocates to supporting them directly.