Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Wagner
Good Lord, you're wrong. You seem to think that politicians dictate direct spending, they don't. They dictate gross budget. Direct allocation is done at a lower level.
|
Yes, but it is made quite clear to them how the DoD intends to spend the money before they approve the budget. They know if they cut the budget what will be eliminated, and they know if they increase the budget what will be added, and from whom it will most likely be purchased from.
Also, much of the DoD spending, especially for large projects, is done in suplemental bills. For example, back in the day Ronald Reagan talked of his "star wars" project. Congress did not allow for the funding for that. The decision was not made by the DoD. Same with the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That money has been done in suplemental bills.
As for Generals dictating things, don't think for one minute that there is not vast amounts of communication between politicians and generals. When congress votes for the budget, they know very well what it will be spent on, in very great detail.