The powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), continues to sound a warning bell that defense spending cuts must come and, according to a Government Executive report, suggests that the now rosy recruiting environment could do without enlistment bonuses created when enlistment numbers were sagging. Speaking Dec. 10 at the Center for American Progress, Murtha said, “If we draw down [forces in Iraq], we ought to be able to get rid of the bonuses.” That’s not all on his scope, though, since Murtha also wants to “figure out a way to fix the acquisition process” and says “the [emergency war] supplements have got to go.”
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.