The Times Record News November 22, 2008
Obama faces budget challenges
By Trish Choate
WASHINGTON — A new blue president in the White House could mean big changes in the military and national defense, possibly affecting Sheppard Air Force Base.
With the economy tanking, President-elect Barack Obama might look to make budget cuts in defense where spending has at least doubled in the years since 9-11.
“The military is going to be in a budget squeeze even if the budget is not reduced,” U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, Wichita Falls’ congressman, said. “And that means you’re going to have to make some smart decisions.”
Years of fighting in the tough environments of Iraq and Afghanistan have left their mark on military equipment, and the Air Force is constantly pointing out its aging aircraft needs replacing.
Rising health care costs also provide a challenge to Pentagon bean counters, and repeated assignments to the war zones are taking a toll on service members. Meanwhile, potential challenges to U.S. security range from al-Qaida to Iran, a country seemingly intent on gaining nuclear firepower.
“The new president is going to face a complicated national security environment,” Thornberry said.
The basic military budget for 2009 added up to more than $500 billion.
A military analyst doesn’t think defense spending will decrease or increase.
The war might be winding down in Iraq, but the United States is escalating the war in Afghanistan, John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org said.
“I think Afghanistan has a tremendous appetite for American troops,” Pike said.
Obama pledged to “responsibly end the war in Iraq” in his campaign platform, phasing out U.S. troops.
Another pundit said Obama hasn’t talked about stripping away the strength of the military.
He wants to shift the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, Paul Fabrizio, assistant political science professor at McMurry University in Abilene, said.
“So I kind of doubt there’s going to be much discussed by way of budget cuts in Armed Services,” Fabrizio said.
Thornberry doesn’t think the military will be immune to cuts, but he doesn’t think they will be deep if they come.
Another base realignment and closure commission is unlikely, he said.
“I’m not sure that there’s a lot more that could be cut without cutting into the military muscle,” Thornberry said.
The 2005 round of BRAC cost Sheppard dearly. The base is losing enlisted medical training to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
Estimates have shown that adds up to the transfer of about 580 positions and 2,700 students to the fort.
© Copyright 2008, The E.W. Scripps Co.
