Originally Posted by kane

I'm sure there are plenty of ways to trim the military budget without hurting our effective readiness.

One example happened recently. The army told congress they don't need any more new tanks. The joint chiefs agreed. Congress went ahead and renewed the contract of the company that makes the tanks. So now millions will be spent building tanks that will just sit parked and never get used.

This happened because the company that makes those tanks has good lobbyist and they have plenty of political influence. Not to mention the elected officials from the area where those tank manufacturing plants are sure as hell don't want to go into an election year having shut down a major employer. At this point that plant is nothing more than a government jobs program.

I'm sure that's not the only example. The military, like all branches of government wastes plenty of cash.