On the Gates Offensive

Obviously, there's much to digest in Defense Secretary Gates' announcement today of the specifics of his effort to cut $100 billion out of the Defense budget over the next five years.

Here are some initial reactions:

• This is the kind of thing the private sector does, and government almost never does -- that is, take stock of current operations and make difficult choices about what's most important and what must be eliminated, however painfully.
• Even when government does this kind of thing, it's usually in the name of saving taxpayer money. But Gates is up front about saying "this agenda is not about cutting the department's budget."
• Gates has now established a story line for defense: We have too much bureaucracy that is standing in the way of our ability to accomplish our mission effectively. What if that theme spreads to other departments and agencies?
• Gates has focused on actions the Obama administration can take without congressional approval. But Congress can always find a way to weigh in, via the appropriations process and other legislation. So if Gates is going to get this done, he better move quickly, before forces of opposition have a chance to fully coalesce.
• In the end, though, Gates may face more opposition internally than he does on the Hill. He's now painted targets on the back of major parts of the Defense establishment, which inevitably will lead others to fear they're next. That's another reason to move quickly -- so Gates can reassure his own workforce that this kind of cost-cutting won't go on forever.
• One big winner here is President Obama: Moving to cut military spending on his own -- even to beef it up elsewhere -- probably would put the president in a politically untenable position, especially in an election year. But the fact that these ideas are originating with Gates, who has earned the respect of members of both parties (and the military establishment) provides cover for Obama to implement them.