CSBA in the News

The Pentagon is asking Congress if it can move more than $5 billion in previously allocated funding, including hundreds of millions of dollars to replace bombs dropped during operations in Libya – despite military leaders previously saying replacements would not be needed. The 91-page request was signed June 30 by Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale and sent to Capitol Hill for review. The omnibus request is the Pentagon’s opportunity to figure out where it is lacking money and ask Congress’ permission to move funds around to cover shortfalls/…/

The U.S. military is getting ready to leave Iraq and Afghanistan. The next threat is much bigger/…/ Highlighting one of the fastest military buildups in history was China’s debut of its stealth jet just hours before the January visit to Beijing by outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The fighter will rival the U.S.’s F-22 Raptor, the world’s only operational stealth fighter. Larger than the F-22, with bigger fuel tanks, it will fly higher, faster and with less chance of detection. It’s one of many Chinese weapons that will impede the U.S. military’s ability to roam freely in the region. An Asian arms race is getting under way, driven by China /…/

The U.S. Marine Corps, one of the most storied military forces, is searching for a mission after the war in Afghanistan ends. The Marines’ 20,000 riflemen in Afghanistan won’t be coming out soon. Military planners say they don’t know which forces will exit first, but defense officials intend to keep combat forces there as long as they can

In his June 22 speech announcing the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops by September 2012, President Barack Obama said that “it is time to focus on nation-building here at home.”

U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to redeploy 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by summer next year could save the Pentagon billions of dollars in operating costs in 2012 and beyond.

Todd Harrison points out that “it’s quite a logistical challenge, just to pick up and move a force that’s been there for almost a decade. We’re looking at not only transporting troops back, but dismantling, uprooting bases, packing up equipment and bringing all of that home. It could cost, you know, billions of dollars.”