THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC...:

A Retreat in Spending: As Obama's White House Shifts U.S. Priorities, The Defense Industry Prepares to Retrench (Dana A. Hedgpeth and Steven Mufson, 2/06/09, Washington Post)

After the massive buildup in defense spending during the Bush administration, the defense industry is in the line of fire.

President Obama has vowed to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq and has hailed the role of America's "soft power." And a bulging federal deficit will force a tough look at pricey weapons systems such as the F-22 fighter jet and a new Navy destroyer.

"The spigot of defense spending that opened on 9/11 is closing," Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "With two major campaigns ongoing, the economic crisis and resulting budget pressures will force hard choices on this department."

...is one of building up to invincibility during war but cutting to bone during peace. The advent of effective unmanned weapons just makes that easier to do now. Defense will revert to a normal sub-2% of GDP.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 7, 2009 6:11 AM