DOD leaders talk sequestration
The Department of Defense's frontline leaders took to the battlegrounds of Congress warning the far reaching impacts sequestration will have in defending the country and their military strategy of rebalancing forces in the Asia Pacific Region, which includes Guam.
By KUAM NewsGuam - The Department of Defense's frontline leaders took to the battlegrounds of Congress warning the far reaching impacts sequestration will have in defending the country and their military strategy of rebalancing forces in the Asia Pacific Region, which includes Guam. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and the Joint Chiefs of Staff today appeared before the House Armed Services Committee to once again warn them about the impact of sequestration.
On March 1 automatic across the board spending cuts will kick in across the federal government if Congress does not act. For the Department of Defense it means it will have to cut $46 billion from its budget over the next seven months. On the chopping block: DOD's strategy to increase presence in the Asia Pacific Region.
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said, "What impact would sequestration have on the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam, Hawaii and Australia? Carter said, "One of the ways that our strategy would change is that we couldn't do what we want to do in the rebalance to the Asia Pacific Theater. And that's a very strategic objective."
Deputy Secretary Carter, who actually visited Guam in July last year, said it is a priority to maintain the pivotal role of the U.S. military in the Asia Pacific Theater. "All that which is critical to our strategies would be put in doubt, and put in jeopardy. If these further budget cuts go on," he said.
During the hearing commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos said he wanted talk about this issue because it's very important to him. He said, "So we're serious we have the money we have aligned the forces for the Marine Corps over the next 18 to 24 months to move to the Pacific we're committed, we're committed to go to Guam. We're committed to reduce the presence in Okinawa all of the things that the government of Japan has agreed to but if sequestration hits it s untold yet exactly what the impacts going to be but Congresswoman you can rest assured that it will be a significant impact."
According to Bordallo should sequestration occur she will work to ensure that funds are prioritized and that the U.S. continues to honor the Guam International Agreement with Japan. "You know we do have an international agreement to fulfill here. And I think this may have if we begin to withdraw or decide not to go ahead with this could have lasting effects between our ally Japan and ourselves," she said.