Freeman

IN BRIEF

With Military at ‘Turning Point,’ Defense Chief Leon Panetta Avoids Bold Moves

SEPTEMBER 04, 2012

“. . . Panetta sometimes sounds more like a congressman representing the “Pentagon district” than the leader of the world’s largest military. . . . And he regularly rails against the possibility that the Pentagon will have to absorb $500 billion in automatic cuts if Congress cannot agree on how to trim $1.2 trillion in government spending. The cuts, triggered under an arcane process known as sequestration, would come on top of an already mandated $487 billion in reductions. . . .

As he did during his days as a congressman, Panetta spends most weekends in California, commuting home on a military jet at a cost of more than $800,000 as of this spring, the latest figures available.” (Washington Post)

What politician would want to cut spending that produces so many different kinds of power?

FEE Timely Classic

“Can America Afford an Empire?” by Sheldon Richman

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