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Gates Targets Overhead
Gates Targets Overhead:  The Pentagon will have to pay for most of its modernization efforts by reducing its massive overhead costs, says Defense Secretary Bob Gates. Speaking May 8 at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kan., Gates said the three percent real growth he’s advocating in defense spending—and he admitted that the Administration has only asked for “just under two percent” above inflation—will just barely cover the escalating costs of personnel, healthcare, and operations and maintenance. Modernization will have to be paid for “within the programmed budget,” more specifically from the overhead costs that account for 40 percent of defense spending. Converting those tail-to-tooth savings may provide roughly two to three percent growth for modernization, he said. The silver lining for the services: Gates said he’ll let them keep whatever savings they find to buy new equipment. (Gates speech) (Also see "Simple Matter of Math" from Monday's DR)
—John A. Tirpak
5/11/2010
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On the Record
People Power
"The real power of our Air Force, like our sister services, is our people, our airmen, in this case. Not only the excellence that they strive to provide, but the commitment that their families offer us on a daily basis. So, while we tend to focus on things, I just want to remind that this is really about wonderful people doing the nation's business."
—Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz concluding his remarks during a briefing with reporters in the Pentagon, Jan. 27, 2012. |
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On the Record
Courage, Selflessness, Teamwork
"For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda's top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban's momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home. These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America's armed forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations."
—President Obama in his State of the Union speech, Jan. 24, 2012. |
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