SecDef Plays Hardball!

Cdr. Salamander wrote: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that unless Congress passes funding for the Iraq war within days, he will direct the Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off employees and terminate contracts early next year.

Gates, who met with members of Congress on Wednesday, said that he does not have the money or the flexibility to move funding around to adequately cover the costs of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"There is a misperception that this department can continue funding our troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers, that we can shuffle money around the department. This is a serious misconception," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.

As a result, he said that he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines."
Go here to see here for the rest of the article: Cdr. Salamander

I think this is a great idea! I personally think he needs to start in the states/districts that have representatives who rely heavily on defense jobs/dollars but continue to not support our troops. However, the military is not supposed to be partisan, so, the SecDef should select either two states/districts one Democrat one Republican or one state/district with both, say Nevada: Senators Reid(D) and Ensign(R). This way it hits both parties get hit with one cut. I also think he should make one cut a week from from these states/districts until the troops are fully funded. See how Congress likes being held hostage for one!

Ish