When is the Right Time for Pentagon Reductions?

The lead story in today’s New York Times, “Pentagon Plans Steps to Reduce Budget and Jobs,” describes a decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to propose military savings by reducing the number of admirals and generals, trimming the use of outside contractors and eliminating a military command, the Joint Forces Command, in Norfolk Virginia.

The re-assignment or elimination of jobs in the JFC is depicted as the most significant move with a savings of $240 million and affecting 5,800 jobs. Predictably, the Senator from Virginia, Jim Webb, expressed reservations.

However, Defense Secretary Gates’s decision needs to be placed in context. It comes at a time when many Democrats are calling for far greater cuts; when there is increasing pressure to rein in the federal deficit; when we are winding down our engagement in Iraq; and when the total defense budget has reached $708 billion, 6.1 percent higher than the peak during the Bush administration.

To Secretary Gates credit, however, he has already cut defense programs and weapons systems that would have cost a total of $330 billion. But he warns us not to “repeat the mistakes of the past, where tough economic times or the winding down of a military campaign leads to steep and unwise reductions in defense.”

With all due respect to the Secretary, when is the right time for Pentagon reductions? When we have more defense commitments? When we are prosperous and can spare the money? The best time, in fact the only prudent time, to reduce the defense budget occurs when their is a major drawdown or when we really need the money. As to the word “unwise,” the right amount of the reduction is in the eye of the beholder, and our Constitution emphasizes civilian control of the military.