What about the QDR? (Published in the Washington Post, Defense News, and other outlets) Millions of man-hours spent by talented, highly educated military officers. Contractors anxiously awaiting a chance to get into the fight. Political appointees nervously awaiting the next step. Sound like someone planning a war? In a way, it is. Legislation mandating a Defense Department Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) was passed in 1997--yielding three detailed, thoughtful reports since then; each one providing a degree of new guidance to America's Armed Services. Meanwhile, the Services took on a war-like posture as each one approached. The next QDR, due to the Congress about one year after the Presidential inauguration, promises another pitched battle. A look back at Service budgets that resulted after past QDRs tells the story. In the end, each Service has maintained its fair share of the Defense budget. If we already know the answer, then why the fuss? Aside from the fact that it's the law, there is too much national treasure at stake not to take a harder look than just once every four years. The Defense base budget for FY 07 was $432 billion, $481 billion for FY 08, and is $515.4 billion for FY 09. In order to ensure Defense is properly managing taxpayer's money while still providing the best for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines we must not pay lip service to this upcoming QDR. To date, the QDR has served as a strategic pause, a chance to get inside the Pentagon's cycle of Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution. In addition, each QDR provides a unique opportunity for Congress to evaluate past investments as they relate to ongoing and future demands. In that sense, it is good. It provides the necessary cross-checks on the DOD budget, which accounts for 4.3% of the US GDP and, in 2005, 41% of all world military outlays.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
