I think it's great they are increasing the size of our troops. This globe is just a bit more complex that in the past and our troops could be needed in multiple locations at a time. Having such a large increase will reduce the chances of stop loss ever occurring again and reducing the amounts of redeployment. I'm sure the families will be ecstatic.

I'd like to see America take a bigger role in Africa. That place can turn into a slaughterhouse and no other country is in a better position than us to help out and prevent the massive genocides that occur there still in this day in age. If we can build strong bonds to African nations, it would reduce the chances of them being controlled by some of the complete animals and sometimes outside elements that have found a home there that have ruled there for decades since the British left.

In the final year of the Bush administration (and excluding the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) the defense budget was $513 billion. In FY 2010, if Gates and Obama get their way, it will be $537 billion--$537 billion that will be spent much differently than last year's outlays were.

Last time I checked, 537 was bigger than 513. Where's this supposed major cut?

Check out this video of Obama promising to make some of these exact reforms even before the Iowa caucuses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE

Some of the details outlined in Gates' budget aren't exactly good things. For example, we're probably going to endure some of the same problems with the F-35 as we did with the F-22, and it's hard to explain increasing the number of enlisted soldiers without a better explanation of what we need them for in the medium term.

But make no mistake, these recommendations are a big deal and they took a lot of guts. The Obama video linked above was a source of Republican attacks in military-friendly states, like Missouri. There's going to be a fight through Congress, and expect a major dishonest media offensive, starting with the stories outlined above.

In all, this budget is a major reassurance, despite the hand-wringing that inevitably occurs as Obama has to make tough decisions on specific policies, that the guy we elected is serious about keeping his campaign promises.

I'm one who thinks our military budget has swollen way out of proportion to any likely threats. I also fully expect it is full of corruption.

But the media have shown their gullibility for right wing memes. This is just another in a decades-long list of disinformation from the news media. For earlier examples see "missle gap," "widow of vulnerability," etc.

When it comes to military defense, that's the one problem conservatives are happy to throw money at.

I was listening to discussion of the defense budget changes on NPR this morning and the one thing that really got to me was the discussion about jobs. E.g.: All the jobs that would be lost if no additional F-22s are made.

Well, the Pentagon is not a jobs program. I understand that, especially in these times, more jobs rather than less are required. That said, if the government is going to fund jobs there are likely more cost effective ways to do than making warplanes that cost $145million apiece. Even if we just keep the focus on airplane…isn’t the antiquated state of civil aviation and air traffic control in this country a recurrent topic? Why not focus on that? Or is the concern about maintaining good quality high-tech manufacturing jobs? Why not divert those F-22 dollars to something like expanding broadband service, fiber optic communications, or high-speed rail?

The day is young, but I have yet to hear one reporter or commentator say anything about the totally disingenuous conversation going on about the sanctity of defense-sector jobs.

The tragic thing is that overall cuts in defense spending are a no brainer. The US is outspending the rest of the world and at the sam time going broke. There is no credible threat that any other military could properly defend itself from the US, much less defeat it militarily. So a ton of this is spending is purely vanity and profiteering. But it's the real third rail of American politics, it seems, since even a massive increase in spending sets off alarm bells and is called a cut.

The Soviet Union didn't fail in combat, it failed as an economy. Hmmmmm.

I am still amazed when I read comments about stories from the supposed MSM. Why indeed would all of these corporate media outlets write about cuts to defense spending? Could it be that companies like GE stand to lose a great deal of money if their subsidiaries lose contracts? Could it be these cash cow companies may go out of business costing corporations money due to investments, ownership or being a member of the board?
Liberals some how still seem to be in denial about the so-called MSM(actually should always be referred to as corporate media) and it's political affiliations. Well, it is political when it helps their bottom line, gets congresspeople to vote for their tax breaks and so on. They are after all in the business of making money, and they just happen to own news outlets. Just as NBC execs have stated, they are not accountable for stating all the facts or even some of them. Americans just need to stop thinking that they can be relied on for facts or the truth, and that the true motives are being controlled in places like GE's board room. Our love of our refrigerators, stoves, ovens and our electronics seem to continually blind us from our surroundings, and just because a mouse is pushing the controls doesn't mean the that mickey doesn't want to be filthy rich.

Gotta agree completely with Concerned Parent.
MSM = Corporate Media
and to address the Title of this piece on the TPM home page about Journalistc Malpractice...please wake me up when they are NOT committing Malpractice. What do you think we have been fed, lo these last 4 decades, except an ever increasing diet of Journo Malpractice. When was the last time our Corporate Media even strayed anywhere NEAR the truth on an important issue. Sure, they cover gun-toting rednecks, missing blondes, and Bernie Madoff quite closely; but anything regarding the Corporate malfeasance, HiJacking, and Complete Looting of our country goes against their corporate business plan...and would rub their advertisers the wrong way. Since...you know....our Corporate Media and their advertisers are the one's doing all the crimes.

I am glad we are waking up to this, but most people do not seem to have grasped the enormity of the Pavlovian and Orwellian spiral we have been in for decades. I guess this was all going to happen, as soon as the COrporations absconded and usurped our public TV and Radio waves....anybody who thinks they won't steal the Internet, raise your hands.

The more they lie to us, the more they have to cover up, misdirect, and create an alternate reality. And that is going on en masse, 24/7 on 200 channels all day every day.

headline nothwithstanding, i think the USA Today write-up got it pretty right as well...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-04-06-gates-weapons_N.htm

Amazing that Republicans are so mathematically challenged when they cannot even recognize an increase in defense spending. And while I am at it, the Sec. of Defense is no newbie. Remember he was the Secretary of Defense while the long Bush nightmare was happening. Obviously then, the difference in the way the expanded Defense budget is being spent does not suit those Republican who receive huge amounts of $ from those big war equipment contractors. Hahaha, as usual the true motive for the Republican whine comes to light. Their weapons producing buddies who gave those giant donations are not happy. Thank you former Sec. Defense Cohen, who is not some Democratic apologist either, for your explicit, accurate and non-political clarification.