Huffpost is reporting that:

Vowing to fight Barack Obama's budget in Congress, Republicans have resorted to a three-pronged attack: accusing the president of proposing unprecedented spending, irresponsible taxation, and using dishonest projections about how to pay for it all.

The GOP apparently got some help from Admiral Mullen, the head of US forces, with a suggestion on Fox New Sunday that he did not know where the Obama administration was getting its long-term projections for the money it will save by drawing down the war in Iraq.

Gotcha!!

Not really. Budget projections don't (and shouldn't) go in that directions. Top brass can make suggestions about what equipment to buy and how to move people around but the bottom line on spending comes from a civilian government. The government sets policy and the military follows orders. This separation of powers and duties is one of the hallmarks of a successful progressive democracy.

Going further, am I the only one who feels it inappropriate for military leaders to appear on TV commenting on the budget or policy in general? Is it their place? 

For more on Mullen and this topic see my earlier blog post.     


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