A long-time analyst of defense matters for the Senate, Winston Wheeler, reaches this tentative conclusion about Secretary Gates' recent proposal for the Pentagon:
While Washington DC hisses and spits over the secretary’s hardware recommendations, it is probably more important to ask, what has changed, and if anything has, where are we now going? It does not appear that the basic DOD budget has changed; this set of decisions may be budget neutral, or it may even hold in its future expanded net spending requirements.
While many decisions were made, the Pentagon-ship of state appears to be very much on the same basic course.
He does give Secretary Gates credit in one area especially:
For one set of decisions, even if they are unspectacular, Secretary Gates deserves much good credit. He made people his first priority. Hopefully, that was not just rhetorical. The emphasis he put on medical research, caring for the wounded, and family support are all to be greatly commended.
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