Drones, Asia & Cyber War: Pentagon Shifts Priorities in New Review; Budget Exceeds Bush Era

DemocracyNow.org — During the Republican presidential debates this weekend, candidates took aim at the military strategy President Obama unveiled late last week, which vows cuts in military spending and a stepped-up focus on the Asia-Pacific region, as well as increased use of drone strikes that have targeted militants in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and throughout Horn of Africa. We speak with William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy, about Obama's new strategy, which leaves spending at levels equal to the Bush administration, and examine alternatives presented by the GOP front-runner in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney. "His plan would be sort of laughable if it wasn't so obscene," Hartung says. "He's talking about, let's keep the military budget at 4 percent of GDP, as if it was some sort of entitlement program for the Pentagon ... He would spend something like $6.5 trillion over 10 years, which would be about a trillion and a half more than the Obama plan. ... If he's not gonna raise taxes, it's going to come straight out of domestic programs which are already being hit quite substantially."

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Category:

News & Politics

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• democracy now
• dn
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• amy goodman
• William Hartung
• Arms and Security Project
• military
• budget
• united states
• obama
• mitt romney
• election
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• pentagon
• drones

[Charlie12241]

We can't afford to spend any more money on anything. If the govt gets in debt they keep spending, if anyone else got that debt they would go bankrupt.

[rwcbanzai]

NitWitt Romney... the war machine consumes tax dollars just like the oil complex !

[fannagirl1]

We need a peoples caucus! Dwight Eisenhower said it best " A people that values its privileges above its principles, soon looses both ". The constitution does indeed have rules, Mr. Paul! Shall we begin to follow them sometime soon please, people. Our maybe we should just leave things the way they are as far as the military budget goes Romney. Silly Goose, your obvious jokes slay me!

[taxfatcats]

Goliath's corporate coup cops - sweatshops are going global. Suck it up Okies

[TheKimrob]

Ron Paul 2012

[gailmalone1]

The World is very dangerous and that would be because of the US' Foreign Policy that enables their lust for blood and power. Global obligations that demand out leadership....says who? I live in the Asia/Pacific area and would much prefer the US stay the F*CK out of our area!

[brak54321]

William Hartung aka Stephen Colberts future

[TripleSpeak]

Just imagine what a relatively peaceful & prosperous world we'd have now if these ZioFascists had never been born. Instead, they've become even more inbred, leading to even more narcissism, greediness, & paranoia.

[thedelta88]

@SleepingSheeple lol ur right. i bet having scary looking guys in uniforms around discourages the press from getting too lippy as well.

[SleepingSheeple]

The military guys behind Obama at 1:20 look scary as all hell!

What are they doing, scanning the audience for terrorists?