Defense cuts too deep, Bennett says

Sen. Bob Bennett and a dozen other GOP senators complained Wednesday that while President Barack Obama's budget spends what they say is far too much in many areas, he may be cutting defense too deeply — especially as he plans to send more troops to Afghanistan.

"While we must make difficult cuts in some areas, I believe that slashing funding for our troops is not where we should be cutting corners," said Bennett, R-Utah, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

He and 12 other GOP senators wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates requesting more information about Obama's budget plans, noting that only highlights have been released so far. But they said those highlights are worrisome.

They said press accounts suggest that numerous major weapons programs could be canceled or postponed, including some that the senators say are needed to ensure the military's "ability to defend our country."

Bennett said separately that "President Obama has said that he plans to increase our troop presence in Afghanistan, but what we have seen and read in reports indicate that his budget may reduce defense spending."

He added, "The Obama budget will run up our national credit card to levels never before seen."

"It is critical that Congress receive more details on where the administration intends to decrease defense spending and how it plans to adequately equip our military to ensure its safety and the safety of the country," Bennett said.

The letter from the senators also asked Gates to provide "risk assessments by each combatant commander, evaluating to what extent the president's proposed defense spending levels will limit their ability to meet ongoing requirements over the lifetime of the Future Years Defense Program."

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