Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks with members of the press after he conducted a town hall meeting with soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division on Fort Drum, N.Y., July 16, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry MorrisonFrom The Wall Street Journal:
CHICAGO -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was determined to forge ahead with changing the priorities of the U.S. military on the same day lawmakers voted to thwart a key component of his plan.
The dueling visions of what the U.S. fighting forces should look like looms as one of the major battles between the Obama administration and Congress. Mr. Gates unveiled a $534 billion Defense Department budget in April that would cut back or cancel costly weapons systems he believes aren't relevant to the military's needs. But some members of Congress are pushing back, restoring funding to weapons systems that Mr. Gates had sought to kill.
Read more ....
Gates challenges Congress to cut 'excess' military spending -- Christian Science Monitor
Gates vows real fight over U.S. defense budget -- Reuters
Gates Sharpens Rhetoric In Dispute on F-22 Funds -- Washington Post
Gates vows to fight Congress on defense budget -- AFP
Gates: Future Jet Supporters are
The dueling visions of what the U.S. fighting forces should look like looms as one of the major battles between the Obama administration and Congress. Mr. Gates unveiled a $534 billion Defense Department budget in April that would cut back or cancel costly weapons systems he believes aren't relevant to the military's needs. But some members of Congress are pushing back, restoring funding to weapons systems that Mr. Gates had sought to kill.
Read more ....
More News On The Defense Budget Battle Between Congress And The White House/Department Of Defense
Gates challenges Congress to cut 'excess' military spending -- Christian Science Monitor
Gates vows real fight over U.S. defense budget -- Reuters
Gates Sharpens Rhetoric In Dispute on F-22 Funds -- Washington Post
Gates vows to fight Congress on defense budget -- AFP
Gates: Future Jet Supporters are
More News On The Defense Budget Battle Between Congress And The White House/Department Of Defense
Gates challenges Congress to cut 'excess' military spending -- Christian Science Monitor
Gates vows real fight over U.S. defense budget -- Reuters
Gates Sharpens Rhetoric In Dispute on F-22 Funds -- Washington Post
Gates vows to fight Congress on defense budget -- AFP
Gates: Future Jet Supporters are Risking Today’s Troops -- The Danger Room
My Comment: I wish Secretary of Defense Gates the best of luck .... but Congress controls the purse strings, and many of them want certain programs funded even though Gates does not want them.
What will change the dynamics is if President Obama starts calling Senators and Congressmen .... but this will mean using political capital when (from his perspective) it should be applied to his domestic agenda.
My bet .... the White House and Secretary of Defense Gates are going to blink.