Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced a major reshaping of the Pentagon budget on Monday, with deep cuts in many traditional weapons systems but new billions of dollars for others, along with more troops and new technology to fight the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The decisions are expected to set off a vigorous round of lobbying over the priorities embroidered into the Defense Department’s half-trillion dollars of annual spending. They represent the first broad rethinking of American military strategy under the Obama administration, which plans to shift more money to counterterrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan while spending less on preparations for conventional warfare against large nations like China and Russia.

Mr. Gates announced cuts in missile defense programs, the Army’s expensive Future Combat Systems and Navy shipbuilding operations. He would kill controversial programs to build a new presidential helicopter and a new communications satellite system, delay the development of a new bomber and order only four more of the advanced F-22 fighter jets.

www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07...efense.html

www.slate.com/id/2215491/

The F-22 was a technological miracle in search of a mission. Designed to establish air superiority in competition with hi-tech enemies, it was perfect for the Cold War, and next to useless for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, all those Congressmen who were lately criticizing budget deficits will be going to the mattresses to save defense plants in their own districts . . .