been what he called a âtailoredâ cutback of 10 percent per year in military expenditures, down to a 40 percent reduction in the Pentagonâs budget by the end of his term.
Knight said, âThis guyâs tuned to the moon, if he thinks what heâs doing is enhancing our national security. Pulling back from Germany, the Horn of Africa, now Korea. Korea! Itâs quieted down some now, but now Pyongyangâs out from under the inspection regime, God knows what theyâre up to. This is all between us, by the way.â
âYes, sir.â
âWeâve got civilian appointees without the faintest idea what theyâre doing. No prior military. Well, you know what I mean. Working with them every day. What do you hear over there? What kind of atmosphere readings are you getting?â
Dan didnât like this question. He wondered if the appointees Knight was talking about included Blair. She couldnât drive a tank or assemble a bomb. But he didnât know anyone in uniform, from flag rank down, who could drill as deep into a manpower issue as she could. He cleared his throat and shifted on the sofa. âIf you mean, is this a military-oriented administration, I guess the answerâs ânot very.â But itâs still early.â
âIâve been over there twice talking to Garn Sebold and whatâs her name, the Asian woman. I understand campaign promises. But once the electionâs over, you expect some movement toward reality. The fact of the matter: We have defensive boundaries around the world. A lot of guys, some I knew, gave their lives to put them there. We keep backpedaling like this ⦠itâs like you live in the projects and you put a sign on your door, âBreak in my house, rape my wife, and steal my shit.ââ
Dan didnât believe a three-star couldnât remember the name of the national security adviser. It was a put-down, though subtle enough it couldnât be quoted against him. âWell, sir, like everywhere, Iâd say some are professional, others less so.â
Knight shook his head, scowling. âIâd rather have them over there than over here. But cutting our readiness, manning, the procurement accountsâthatâs a no-go. Let me tell you a little story.
âBack in â32, â33, this country was in a worse depression than anyone remembers now. FDR wanted to cut the Army budget to practically zero. Douglas MacArthur was the chief of staff back then. He went to Rooseveltâs office and put his resignation on the table. He said that when we lost the next war, and an American boy was dying in the mud with a bayonet in his belly, he wanted him to die cursing Franklin Roosevelt, not Douglas MacArthur.â
Dan wasnât sure whether this was a historical reflection, a message he was supposed to take back, or just the general blowing off steam. As far as he could see, he was pointing the finger in the wrong direction. âGeneral, I know this administrationâs committed to reductions in defense. It was in their platform from the start. But what actually gets appropriated isnât an executive branch call. Congress sizes the accounts.â
Knight picked something off his lip. He examined it, then put it carefully in the ashtray. âWeâve been talking to our friends on the Hill. Sonny doesnât think any further reductionâs wise. Neither does Strom or Mike.â
Dan rubbed his eyes. The cigar smoke stung at close range. âThen it seems like the appropriate steps are being taken, sir. Maybe Iâm oversimplifying here, but thatâs my understanding of the process.â
The dull green irises came to rest on him like twenty-pound weights. âI donât need you to tell me the process, Commander.â
Dan said, âSir, nobody over here, or over there, can stop the president from putting in whatever budget he comes up with. If he thinks itâs what
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