Robert Gates Closes Joint Forces Command in Norfolk
By Alan Moore | Monday, August 9th, 2010 | Catch-All, PolicyBig news affecting Virginians coming out of Washington today. Defense Secretary Robert Gates today announced that Joint Forces Command in Norfolk Virginia would close, some positions eliminated completely while others would be reassigned. The economic impact of this decision is momentous.
From FoxNews.com:
Virginia lawmakers slammed the decision, condemning the move with a steady stream of written statements while assembling for a press conference in Norfolk Monday afternoon. Aside from concerns over jobs, they argued that the command could actually help the Pentagon save money.
“I can see no rational basis for dismantling JFCOM since its sole mission is to look for efficiencies and greater cost-savings by forcing more cooperation among sometimes competing military services,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a written statement. “”In the business world, you sometimes have to spend money in order to save money.”
He vowed to work with the congressional delegation to retain as many jobs connected to the command as possible. Norfolk is one of 10 major U.S. military commands.
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., also called the move a “step backward” and one that could hurt military capability. “I will carefully examine the justifications for this decision as well as its implications for the greater Norfolk community,” he said.
Rep. Glenn Nye, D-Va., pledged to do the same, ripping the announcement as “short-sighted and without merit.”
“I appreciate the department’s attempt to rein in spending, but I have yet to see any substantive analysis to support the assertion that closing JFCOM will yield large savings,” he said.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim agreed with Warner that the command could save money. He told FoxNews.com that the station is “valuable” and the congressional delegation has the “leverage” to negotiate with the Pentagon.
“I think we want to resist this,” Fraim said. He said the simulations and other exercises conducted at Joint Forces Command are critical and must be performed somewhere.
In response Gov. McDonnell issued Executive Order #22 which establishes a “Commission on Military and National Security Facilities.”
For more than one hundred years the Commonwealth of Virginia has served the United States of America and its citizens by providing an unparalleled array of military and non-military national security facilities, including the Pentagon in Arlington, the world’s largest naval base in Norfolk, both the field training facility for the Central Intelligence Agency at Camp Perry and the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, the National Ground Intelligence Center and many other facilities throughout the Commonwealth. Collectively these military and national security facilities have become an integral part of the Commonwealth, including our security, our economic stability and our civic life.
The people of Virginia are acutely aware of the integral role military and national security facilities play in the economic vitality of the Commonwealth. The estimated $56 billion the Department of Defense alone is projected to spend in the Commonwealth in 2010 translates to business for Virginia and high-quality jobs for our citizens. Virginia will be vigilant in protecting the military and national security assets located in the Commonwealth, and will continuously seek new opportunities for growth. To this end, the Commonwealth will be proactive in identifying the appropriate strategies to retain the military and national security facilities located in the Commonwealth and to identify operations and facilities that can be located within Virginia.
To accomplish this, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Article V of the Constitution of Virginia and by Section 2.2-134 of the Code of Virginia, I hereby create Virginia’s Commission on Military and National Security Facilities.
This story is far from over. The impact of this decision will ripple through so many areas in Virginia. The economic impact will be devastating: people will lose their jobs, businesses will go bankrupt, and the political landscape will change – and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
If this decision is final, which it looks like it is, the Commonwealth is in line for some major changes.
The Governor just released a statement:
“I am deeply disappointed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposal to close the United States Joint Forces Command. We are at war abroad in multiple countries and closing the command where components from multiple branches of the military come together to provide intelligence and protection is the wrong decision. We live in a high-tech, interconnected world where collaboration and communication is key—the Joint Forces Command is vital to keep our homeland safe. The multiple joint operations and the modeling and simulations programs conducted by the Joint Forces Command is a long-term key to America’s national security and saves tremendous resources by using technology in lieu of expensive field exercise. Most experts acknowledge that the concepts of inter-operability and jointness are absolutely key to victory in modern warfare.”
“The Joint Forces Command has been in operation since 1947 and continues to serve as a major employer of Virginians. As one of 10 full combatant commands, the Joint Forces Command employs nearly 5000 civilians and service members. This decision will cost good quality, high paying jobs for thousands of Virginians and could not come at a worse time. This decision appears to have been made in private with no recommendation or support in the recent Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and completed outside of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process. It appears as though this administration is cutting investments in national defense in order to pay for massive new social programs. I will continue to work with members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation to do all that we can to keep the Joint Forces Command open in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
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Alan Moore is a conservative activist and public relations expert in NoVA. Follow Alan on Twitter: @SecPress
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77 Responses to "Robert Gates Closes Joint Forces Command in Norfolk"
The Chicago mob doesn’t like us in Hampton Roads very much… first was a Carrier, after the Cuccinelli lawsuit now JFCOM and maybe next, Oceana?
Our Congressional representatives have their hands full and I wouldn’t want to be an incumbant Democrat, even in Bobby Scott’s district in November.
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Yet another reason to elect Kenny Golden. He was there when JFCOM was created, he was the first head of the J5 and J8 directorates, and he worked at the Pentagon preparing the information that Congress uses to decide these issues.
While Rigell issued a statement today, Golden issued one last week when the Defense Business Board first announced JFCOM was on the chopping block. Yet again, Rigell is a day late and a dollar short.
How can Rigell look anyone in the eye and truthfully say he is the best qualified to handle this issue and the carrier issue? The guy doesn’t know anything about the military that he hasn’t learned from someone else.
There is one person that can lead the delegation in this crucial fight and that is Kenny Golden. It all boils down to this;
Who do you want staring down Gates and the Joint Chiefs at a Congressional hearing? A car dealer, a diplomat, or a 31 year battle hardened veteran?
The answer is simple. The stakes are too high for this election elect another novice leader. We need real experience, not just a candidate with deep pockets.
If you want this region to survive economically, make the educated choice and support Kenny Golden for Congress.
For those of you who have not seen Kenny’s release, I will post it below. It came out 11 days ago. I repeat, 11 days ago. Rigell is 11 days late on this issue. How late will he be once he is elected?
Virginia Beach, VA – The Defense Business Board (DBB), a group of independent advisors to the Pentagon, has recommended closing Norfolk based Joint Forces Command to reduce costs in the Department of Defense.
Independent Second District Congressional Candidate Kenny Golden, however, disagrees with the assessment:
“Although JFCOM has never been given the authority by the DOD or combatant commands to accomplish its mission, getting rid of it will not eliminate the need for jointness in our armed forces. If we scrap it now, we will have to re-create it in a different form and at a massive cost to taxpayers.”
The current 2010 operating budget for JFCOM is $704 million and it employs over 5000 people in Hampton Roads according to the Daily Press. Elimination of the command would be a serious blow to the local economy.
Golden served as Deputy and Department Head in both the J5 (Strategy and Plans) and J8 (Strategy and Requirements) directorates and was the command briefer for three years as US Joint Forces Command made the transition from US Atlantic Command in the years from 1998 to 2000.
“The problem is not JFCOM,” according to Golden, “but rather the combatant commands and the Joint Staff not wanting to give up money, influence, and the authority that should have been given with the crucially important job of coordinating all joint activities.”
“The first thing we need to do,” Golden said, “is give JFCOM the capabilities and authority it needs to carry out its mission, then we can worry about eliminating duplication and unnecessary personal. If the goal is to reduce defense spending, we need to start with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and work our way down.”
According to The Hill Newspaper, the OSD roster has grown by over 700 since 2000. Currently it employs more than 5000 people and has an annual budget of $5.5 billion. While the DBB report suggests a hiring freeze at OSD and the combatant commands, Golden believes it is not enough:
“A hiring freeze is a good place to start, but what we really need is a complete independent audit of the entire DOD to see exactly where we stand in terms of contractor support, program duplication, and misplaced areas of responsibility. Right now the Pentagon does not even have a total head count of everyone it employs. This is simply an unacceptable situation.”
Why couldn’t our bigshot Harry Reid-loving US Senators have prevented this? this would not have happened under John Warner’s watch.
Maybe if they didn’t vote for every bailout & waste taxpayers money on unions, we could have money for our defense. and for JFCOM.
Bypassing the QDR and Congressional review, Obama cancels an enormous job creator and critical military command. If Bush did this to some social program the libs would be going bat*hit crazy. Gates can say he’s going to reprogram the functions and money all he wants – but its Congress that appropriates the money and they are going to cut defense spending hard – just like Clinton did if the Dems remain in control of the Congress and White House. More proof that elections have consequences.
Oh, and there is no doubt that the Pentagon must hate Jim Webb and Glenn Nye. What other explanation is there? We have been solidly whacked since Allen and Drake’s defeat…
Here is a link to a report that was posted on PO. Active and retirees need to pay attention of their benefits.
http://www.govexec.com/pdfs/072210rb1.pdf
I did not know Gates was from Chicago… Damn Republican… Always trying to save us a few tax dollars.
And can you believe the Bob McD has lost even more jobs in Virginia? What are we going to do? This would never have happened with Kaine or Warner’s Richmond watch…
LOL
Golden? The same man who is such an expert on jobs he didn’t know what the BPOL tax was?
Hey Bryan, last I checked 50% of the economy in Hampton Roads is the military. Hence he is THE EXPERT on 50% of the Hampton Roads economy. No one entity makes up the other 50%, therefore he is THE EXPERT on jobs in Hampton Roads.
Can you show me the video clip of Kenny not knowing what the business and professional occupation license tax is? Are you aware that it is not a Federal tax, but a local one? Are you aware that makes it irrelevant to this race? Can you show me a statistic that says it makes up 50% of the Hampton Roads economy? Can you show me anything that says Rigell is more qualified than Golden to protect military jobs?
No, you can’t. Until you can, I suggest you, along with the rest of the GOP, wonder why you nominated the candidate absolutely least qualified to protect jobs in Hampton Road. So long as Rigell makes this campaign about jobs, he loses. No one can deny the military is half the economy here and no one can deny Rigell isn’t qualified to deal with it.
What the heck was the GOP thinking? Did they not remember how Nye beat Thelma with the GI bill commercials? The DEM’s already have clips of Rigell ignoring questions on the GI bill. Forget that it was a tracker asking it, the public will never know once the TV ads come out.
Sorry Rigell fans, you guys are going to get slaughtered by the dems in the coming months. I honestly, sincerely feel bad for Scott. He is a great guy and a great American, it is truly a pitty the GOP strong-armed him into running. He doesn’t deserve what the dems are going to throw at him, but he also doesn’t deserve to serve in Congress.
W. Bailey, how very astute of you picking up that Gates has completely broken ranks from the Chicago Mob and is “Going Rogue” with his own political vision of military perfection.
LOL….
Whats the over under on Golden? 5% on election day?
“Whats the over under on Golden? 5% on election day?”
I would say that depends on how many in the district used to work at JFCOM.
Gates works for the Obama administration. THAT is the link. Too bad Democrats from Norfolk, Glenn Nye and Bobby Scott were unable to do anything about the closing of JFCOM.
Of course when times were tough for Kaine, it was Bush’s fault. Now that Obama is in office the fault must lie with McDonnell. Right William? That is how it goes in the Democrat talking points.
Unfortunately for your arguement, the national unemployment rate (that’s ALSO the part outside of McDonnell’s governance) is also in SAD shape. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the national unemployment stands at 9.5%!!
Oh, and what was unemployment at the start of Obama’s administration? 5.8%!!!!!
http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm
I guess the nation going from 5.8 to 9.5% was McDonnell’s fault too? Give us a break.
Bryan Stuart, or whoever you are, you are certainly ill informed. Anyone who has ever lived in Va. Beach has experienced the hated BPOL tax and VBTA has been trying to eliminate it for years. I learned what BPOL was the first time I went to a VBTA meeting (1995) upon returning to my native state from my tour in Japan. One day when we get enough VBTA folks elected locally and the state the business professional occupational license will go away.
What you fail to see here is the real tragedy of this loss to all our young men and women in uniform. US Joint Forces Command was created to push, handle, shape, and advocate all things Joint. It has gotten too large and our leader at the conception, ADM Hal Gehman has stated the same but it has also picked up many functions that cannot be performed in Washington DC or in our 9 other Combatant Commands. This will not be good for our troops and it will hurt readiness and certainly two of the most critical of steps, joint training and joint experimentation not to mention Modeling and Simulation. The loss of this command will also hurt ODU as they have benefitted quite a bit from the Joint Forces Command relationship. NATO too will suffer as it’s ACT Command (Allied Command Transformation) is colocated with JFCOM for the purpose of cross pollination of the two commands. It’s a bad decision all round and you’ll notice the OSD Command NII in Crystal City, which was recommended for elimination, did receive the Gates knife. Wonder why!!!??? All the best. r Kenny
Pretty sure no one on here thinks losing JFCOM is a good thing, or underestimating the meaning of the loss. It is a complete repudiation of Glenn Nye and his lack of authority or pull for anything in Armed Services.
All things being equal, I can see the need for Kenny Golden’s expertise in Congress.
Isn’t it ironic the Governor endorsed a life-long friend, Scott Rigell, who is incapable of addressing Virginia’s importance to the military. Now, in political damage control desperation, McDonnell is seeking a panel to address retaining and growing military presence in Virginia. That’s akin to closing the barn doors after the ponies have escaped.
That is why endorsements tied to political favors and friendship end up embarrassing one’s intelligence. In this case, it is a clear example where the Governor and those local elected officials placed their own self-serving politics by imprudently endorsing Rigell in a primary. They should be ostracized for their willingness to put their own individualist favors before integrity. You may notice that former Delegate Wardrup, a career military man, excluded himself to keep the integrity of the selection process.
So now for those of you who prefer to follow party loyalty, either Republican or Democrat, before intelligence, I have jumped off the fence with two feet firmly standing in Kenny Golden’s orchard of knowledge and capability in spite of ridiculous references to non-existent polls.
Mark Warner has voted for every Obama bill. So let’s see him use some of his influence with the President & Congress to stop this.
Bryan Stuart,
What is the over under on your IQ, 80, 70, 60? You come up with arguments that a 2nd grader could dispel and then when you are beaten, refuse to even acknowledge defeat.
Regardless of what happens on election day, Golden will remain the candidate who is best qualified. The only people that will suffer are the residents of the 2nd district who may have to put up with 20% unemployment because the GOP and DEM’s decided to pick people wholly incapable of protecting the interests of the district.
DJ, I’m pretty sure most everyone except Kenny is underestimating the importance of its loss. Why is that? Because no one except Kenny has any clue what they do at JFCOM and what it will mean for our armed forces. Your understanding of this issue, along with Rigell’s, is at a grade school level. Blaming Nye is not sufficient. Since when has blaming anyone got anyone anywhere? Kenny has proposed solutions in his release. Rigell has laid blame all around. Which leadership style would you prefer? I think the answer is pretty obvious. If you ever hope to stop tending bar, maybe you should give some more thought to who you support. Hoping for a job with the Rigell camp isn’t going to pan out come November.
Oh for Pete’s sake, the hypocrisy on these pages is astounding. If this command is bloated and out of control as indicated by Gates, it should be reformed. And the thought that one politician can change this is ridiculous; our delegation needs to stay united and work together to make the case, if there is one to be made.
I have to disagree with D.J., if closing it down is the right fiscal and national security decision, then it should be closed down. If not, then it should be maintained. Job loss should not factor into this decision at all. I realize there is a signficant impact to the region, including friends of mine. However, for any true Constitutional and fiscal conservative, the loss of jobs should not be of primary concern in this decision but rather if it is the right decision for the nation.
This JFCOM decision was no more Nye’s fault anymore than it was Forbes or Whitman’s. Keep it real guys.
Experience VS Money.. pick your poison. I’ll take experience anyday. Rarely do we have someone with the level of experience with military matters who runs for office. Few congressmen have ever have the benefit of 3 decades of active duty experience.
Kenny Golden for Congress!
I hesitate to say anything here – and those of you who know me understand why – but I have to agree with both Mike Barrett and kingsmoothie on this one.
As conservatives, we shouldn’t be looking to preserve things for preservation’s sake – especially when it comes to government.
I thought we were supposed to be looking for cost savings and smaller, leaner, more limited government?
As Secretary Gates said yesterday, JFCOM was created to lead joint transformation into the 21st Century – and it has performed brilliantly. Now that the mission is over, should we perpetuate the bureaucracy just because?
This is not really political, and I am bit disappointed to see Republicans, who are purportedly conservative, jump on the bandwagon to eat from the the government trough.
If the mission can still be achieved with a cost savings, then I applaud the SECDEF’s leadership at doing what far too many government agencies fail to do – cut spending.
e-mail I sent to the Governor, both my Senators and my Congressman:
“Governor McDonnell, a suggestion on the closing of US Joint Forces Command. Move US Africa Command from Europe to Norfolk and/or Suffolk. AFRICOM can easily take over the existing billets and infrastructure of JFCOM. Moving AFRICOM from Europe to Virginia would be a cost savings move in line with Secretary Gates’ desire to save budget monies. Overseas billets and infrastructure costs are expensive compared to stateside. If USCENTCOM can support the Middle East from Tampa; USSOUTHCOM can support South America from Miami; then obviously AFRICOM can support Africa from Norfolk and/or Suffolk. In exchange for your political support to close JFCOM, Secretary Gates moves AFRICOM to Virginia.”
Jim – couldn’t disagree with you more and I think we’re missing the big picture, which I didn’t emphasize enough in my post, leaving it to the McDonnell statement. Are we more or less safe with JFCOM shut down? The Governor and every elected official from Virginia seems to think we will be less safe.
For the fiscal conservatism issue, I think there are about 1,000,000 other areas in government that should be eliminated or reformed before the military. There are bloated and unnecessary spending in the military like all government funded programs and departments, but none of those programs/departments have the duty to save lives to the extent the military has. Before we take a hatchet to the military budget, let’s make sure it won’t lessen our national security.
I have to agree with J.R here. As I noted over at Common Sense, this is one of those situations where fiscal conservatives have to walk the walk, not simply talk the talk. This is a substantial cut to federal spending, and while I understand the damage it will do to Norfolk and Hampton Roads, the damage these runaway deficits are doing to the entire country far outweigh that.
I think it’s a bit hypocritical for Kenny Golden to be running on a platform of fiscal conservatism and reducing the debt and the deficit and then being critical of one of the Obama Adminsitrations few efforts to actually reduce the deficit by cutting spending.
If we are going to get spending under control, every area of the budget is going to need to be looked at including defense. Shuttering JFCOM will reduce defense spending by almost $1 billion a year. That’s not much overall, but it’s a start.
If we fiscal conservatives don’t want to look like hypocrites, we should be very careful how we approach this issue. I can understand the Governor must be against it, but it’s going to be hard for a federal elected Republican to come out against these cuts and then argue for fiscal discipline elsewhere.
Fiscal conservatism.. how about not buying a lot of hardware that military leadership do not ask for or want? I failed to run into anyone who knows what JFCOM is that agrees it should shut down entirely but like all agencies it must come uner review and cut back as any organization must in order to meet reduced budgets. My neighbor was a senior officer during Clintons reign of cutbacks in the 90′s and he is certain that politically motivated cuts knocked the defense capability off balance which opened the door to 9-11. Instead of cutting off and killing, would a scale back not make more sense? JFCOM is the joint skunk works we need to keep the upper hand and remain on the offensive.. do you conservatives think it is conservative to dismantle this now?
From JFCOM:
What is USJFCOM?
At the United States Joint Forces Command, we are involved in both current and future operations – ready for today; preparing for tomorrow.
Today
•We train and provide forces from all services to commanders around the world to work together as a joint team.
•We ensure the equipment each team brings to an operation is compatible.
•We provide teams with unique skills that can deploy at a moment’s notice to assist an operation.
•We coordinate our efforts with other nations to ensure we can operate together.
Tomorrow
•We develop a blueprint for how our military forces will conduct future operations.
•We test this blueprint to ensure that it works.
•From this blueprint we develop solutions that can be put into the hands of service men and women who will be engaged in future operations.
Command mission and strategic goals
The United States Joint Forces Command
provides mission-ready joint-capable forces and supports the development
and integration of joint, interagency, and multinational capabilities to meet the present and future operational needs of the joint force
USJFCOM with its component commands will respond to combatant commanders’ operational requirements by providing timely and mission-ready joint capabilities. To accomplish this USJFCOM will become a harmonized force made up of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians who excel at joint warfighting.
Together with the service headquarters and our interagency and multi-national partners, USJFCOM will achieve unity of effort to maximize our joint strengths. Not only will we be instrumental in winning the global war on terrorism, USJFCOM will anticipate and prepare for the future demands of the National Defense Strategy.
We are facing three major emerging threats, requiring us to be ready for three major forms of warfare.
Weapons of Mass Destruction: We must do everything possible to prevent the proliferation of these technologies and prevent their use. We must force ourselves to think the unthinkable, and be prepared to mitigate the chaos and destruction that would occur when one of these weapons is used, terminating any nuclear, chemical, or biological conflict as rapidly as possible.
Conventional Warfare: We face powers who wish to challenge us. These rising competitors have the resources to build large conventional armed forces fueled by powerful economies. We must maintain our conventional dominance – check-mating intellectually and materially any enemy who might consider taking us on in conventional warfare.
Irregular Warfare: We must move swiftly to make irregular warfare a core competency of the U.S. military. We must develop a mastery of irregular warfare comparable to that which we possess in conventional and nuclear warfare, leveraging our conventional dominance to asymmetrically improve in irregular war.
Striking A Balance
While working closely with all of our partners, we must develop and maintain a balance between supporting current operations and shaping the joint force that will fight in the future. We will strike this balance while developing and adapting internal USJFCOM processes to best serve our alignment and integration while seamlessly supporting the warrior at the fight, today and in the future.
Support to Current Operations
USJFCOM will continue to provide trained and ready joint forces to the combatant commanders in support of validated requests for forces. The command will also continue to provide timely and realistic joint training support to combatant commanders, services, and interagency and multinational partners.
Develop Future Operational Capabilities
USJFCOM will lead the effort to enable the development of a joint force based on small, high performing units that can confront any threat. We will provide a new concept for command and control that becomes more a concept of command and feedback. It must push knowledge to the lowest level, and allow for a clear communication of commander’s intent. We must not allow technology to serve as a replacement for rigorous training, sound doctrine, proven practices, and effective leadership.
Organizational Alignment
We will look hard at ourselves, aggressively seeking opportunities to ensure our scarce resources are properly aligned to our mission and priorities and spent wisely. Each member of our team must understand how his or her work contributes to the overall effort. Every partner has valuable contributions to make, and we must open the door to those contributions.
Our Goals
Make Irregular Warfare A Core Competency
We must urgently adapt our expeditionary and general purpose forces to fight the irregular and hybrid wars we will likely face for the foreseeable future, recognizing what is “asymmetric” or “irregular” to us today is wholly “regular” to our enemies.
Design Integrated, Properly Structured Command and Control
We must emphasize the human element in command and control and develop joint command and control policies and capabilities that enable decentralized decision making and initiative, including in degraded or hostile information environments.
Improve as Joint Force Provider
Effective and efficient use of our limited force capacity is imperative as we reset, reconstitute and revitalize our armed forces.
Accelerate Efforts toward a Whole of Government Approach
We will engage and collaborate at all levels and on all fronts to create a trust and understanding among joint and coalition forces, interagency partners and non-governmental organizations.
I say follow the money trail leading from congress back to states.. FOLLOW THE MONEY guys!
In putting the philosophical and political positions aside for a moment, I read through the “Defense business Board” briefing several times, and it is exactly what it says it is… “Reducing Overhead and Improving business Operations”. What’s lacking in this report is an operational “Mission” critical components overlay that JFCOM is currently supporting. Almost all of our representatives seem to be asking for the “Mission” justification for the decision:
Glenn Nye – “I look forward to receiving the secretary’s official proposal and his analysis for reorganization.”
Jim Webb, – “I will carefully examine the justifications for this decision as well as its implications for the greater Norfolk community.”
Rob Wittman – “Furthermore, I look forward to hearing from Secretary Gates how the current, critical missions of JFCOM, such as joint training efforts, will be carried out under this new plan.?”
Eric Cantor – “any move to eliminate an entire combatant command should be subject to the heaviest scrutiny, including an accurate cost-benefit analysis and a review of the impact on our national security.”
Bobby Scott – I look forward to a full briefing by the Secretary’s office justifying this decision. I will work with my colleagues in the Hampton Roads congressional delegation to ensure that this decision is heavily scrutinized.”
Maybe the Congressmen should get testimonials from the hundreds of soldiers who have been saved by the training and supporting intelligence they have directly received from JFCOM in both wars and our growing adventures in Africa. One testimonial would come from a friend of mine who was able to recognize an IED emplacement from his moving HUMVEE in Afghanistan which he credits to his JKnIFE training from JFCOM. The IED blew up but and it rolled his vehicle several times, all survived but with minor injuries and he credits his ability to avoid it from cues obtained from his training.
Does a “business” decision to close a major combatant command based on dollars now put a price on the blood and treasure of our young soldiers? It looks like the path we are starting to follow by placing commodity pricing on the lives of our sons and daughters.
Do you honestly believe that training, equipping, and manning decisions to support the warfighter are suddenly going to disappear?
Don’t think so.
shades011 – great idea.
JR… the point is that “training, equipping, and manning decisions to support the warfighter…” aren’t currently a part of the JFCOM closing discussion. The question is how many of those core functions including doctrine development will remain in the Hampton Roads area under different management?
Interesting posts… I see that some of the conservative lemmings are starting to figure out my comment.
humor & ironic: I didn’t give myself the “Jobs Gov” tag nor can conservatives who want less taxes and spending really complain when Republican Gates gave you exactly what you have been crying for.
You all really look silly trying to spin this issue while promoting your “own” candidates and blaming others. I found it funny the Rigel was sending out emails blaming Nye’s leadership for the loss while the Jobs Gov went blame free.. Oh politics… LOL
Sounds like J.R. and Mr.Schoeneman need get their copy of the U.S. Constitution and re-read Article I Section 8 as to what the Federal government is to fund through Congress. So when you speak of cutting spending start and eliminate the items not contained in the Constitution, not Defense which is prominently stated. I see a lot more progressiveness on this web-site than conservatives.
On the fence, the Constitution says what may be funded, not what should be funded and it certainly says nothing about how much funding there should be.
The founders didn’t even want us to have standing armies and navies, so I’m sure if they were here now, they’d be dumbfounded by how gargantuan our military power has become. And they wouldn’t be pleased about it.
Oh, my! How in the world did I end up agreeing with Mike Barret?
Hmmm Brian,
‘To raise and support armies”; “To provide and maintain a navy”; “the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings.”
What Constitution are you reading?
This ones for you Brian http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec8.html
@Chris
“So long as Rigell makes this campaign about jobs, he loses.”
Of all your statements, this is perhaps my favorite.
Scott Rigell = actually created hundreds of jobs and has actually, personally, hired people.
Golden / Nye = Zero Jobs created.
Brian, Kenny Golden = Held numerous commands all over the world and led the largest amphibious fleet since the Korean conflict while defending this country and serving at the pentagon. Responsible for thousands of armed forces employees and hundresds of million dollar annual budgets.
Rigell = Car Salesman
Nye = Diplomat
On the fence, I’m reading the one that says nothing about the size of those armies and navies, nor how much should be spent on them.
Did you notice the other areas of the Constitution that make it clear the founders were concerned about standing armies in peacetime? Did you miss the whole part about appropriations for the army only lasting for two years? Or the 3rd amendment?
This issue has nothing to do with the text of the Constitution. There’s little point in bringing it up. We’re discussing how Congress and the Administration should handle their constitutional responsibilities, not whether those responsibilities are legitimate.
“On the fence” – I don’t debate people who hide behind their keyboards. Use your real name and we’ll have a conversation.
Regardless, I’ll say this – Robert Gates is one of the moat transformational secretaries the Defense Department has ever had and is willing to do the things that are necessary for us to fight and win wars – and, yes, that includes a Navy and an Army. However, there are many ways to ensure they are efficiently managed. This happens to be Gates proposal.
My only point is that conservatives shouldn’t shudder when the DoD is part of a cost savings measure. Besides, Gates is cutting no DoD spending – he’s merely reallocating the savings to other spending that supports the warfighter.
For more on Gates, check out this article in Wired:
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist_gates
JR, Bert Mizusawa isn’t in the race any more and should be objective as well as knowledgeable. Maybe someone can contact him for his opinion?
If a trusted opinion said this was a legitimate cut and that we should plan for it, I think many would change their opinion.
William Bailey is right in that partisanship really isn’t germane to the overall issue. Whether or not this is a legitimate cut or not, is. Of course, in focusing on other people pointing partisan fingers, it didn’t lend him credibility when he did the same exact thing. And just because it is a cut, William, doesn’t make it a legitimate one, Republicans asking for fiscal restraint or not!
I didn’t help either by pointing out the absurdity of William pinning unemployment and JFCOM on McDonnell. All distracting from the real issue.
I kinda fell in the “lemming” category in that I saw “red meat” thrown on the floor and attacked it almost out of reflex. Which of course, begs for a partisan counter response. Not that William or Mike B. help in that regard, lol.
Just read the article, JR. Maybe you’re right. Some of the stuff in there made him look like he really cares and is more than just some political tool serving at the pleasure of the president. The same President Obama that pushes less than wonderful ideas like Cap & Trade, socialized medicine, No Spending Program Left behind, etc.
Maybe we do need to keep an open mind about this cut. Our elected officials are waiting for justification for this cut. Maybe we should too. Still wouldn’t mind another informed and objective opinion.
This also kills the modeling and simulation industry here in Hampton Roads too. It was a key growth area in the local economy.
Also how long will it take to shut down JFCOM and where will its work be farmed out. Local bases?
That’s right, Lee. No other private enterprises, such as in the fields of health care, shipbuilding, aviation, etc. use modeling and simulation. We must rely on the government. (sarcasm intended)
As for the jobs, that won’t be known for at least 6 months to a year.
JR, Mr. Schoeneman
Guess you’re not allowed to have a handle around here. Okay, name is Jeremy Davis, Virginia Beach. Happy?
My point is, that with all the ridiculous earmarks, entitlements, foreign aid, occupational forces, and nation building no where contained in our Constitution, you “Conservatives” have capitulated to set an example for liberals for fear of being called hypocritical. You condone stripping an agency that coordinates a national defensive posture for our nation. Get some backbone! For a country which the Congress is responsible for declaring war, which it hasn’t done in 68 years (Dec. 8, 1941), we’ve permitted hundreds of thousands of lives lost. For God and country’s sake, get things in the right perspective. Your neoconservative attitudes broaden the smiles of liberals.
On the fence, I still don’t understand why you’re dragging the Constitution into this argument. The fact that the government does some things that aren’t specifically enumerated does not mean that because spending on defense is specifically enumerated, it’s somehow better or above reproach.
When the spending is out of control, it doesn’t matter how much of a Constitutional imprimatur it has. That Congress may spend the money does not mean that Congress should spend the money. I’m tired of this kind of Ron Paulesque rhetoric with meaningless appeals to the Constitution.
I have plenty of backbone, which is why I can say that when it comes to solving the deficit problem, we need to look at all discretionary spending, not simply non-defense spending. Defense spending needs to get a review too, because if it doesn’t, all the spending Congress wants to do and can’t will just get recategorized as defense spending and thus untouchable. A lot of that has already happened.
There’s nothing neoconservative about that. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Neocons would be in favor of massive defense spending increases to support greater interventions abroad.
I have things in the right perspective – we need to be cutting spending and how we do it is less important than actually doing it.
Before us fiscal conservatives decide to applaud Barack Obama for destroying the economy in Hampton Roads and possibly making this country less safe, lets take a moment to really evaluate what is going on here. I don’t buy the argument that closing JFCOM is an act of fiscal conservatism. Obama’s record is completely opposite with insatiable spending on failed stimulus programs, socialized healthcare, and bailout after bailout. If this was a start to a legitimate attempt at deficit reduction perhaps I could buy into it, but it isn’t at all. Obama will continue to spend massive amounts of money on his disastrous domestic programs while giving the military the shaft because they are extremely less important to the President than his precious domestic programs – and that is a downright SCARY view for any President.
There is government waste in the DOD, everyone knows that, but unless we start across the board deficit reduction I don’t understand why the military budget must be cut (not for the sake of reducing that waste) to pay for bloated government programs like Obamacare, Medicare, Social Security, bailouts, welfare, and stimulus spending.
As for Robert Gates I think he views the office of the Presidency as absolute, no matter who is the President and will do what he’s told for the good of the country. Such a view is noble but if your values are conflicted, which I’m not sure they are, then you should resign.
Someone please tell me again why the military is a good place to start cutting spending? Especially when absoloutely NOTHING else is getting cut? And how will our country be safer? If it will be then it’s worth doing, if we will be about the same then I don’t see the point.
Lastly, I think some “conservatives” are so anxious to appear “bipartisan” that they will jump at any issue with an inkling of conservatism in it to support the Left even if they know they’re dead wrong.
Alan, the reason why defense is a good place to cut is the same reason why John Dillinger robbed banks: that’s where the money is.
Over half of the discretionary spending every fiscal year is defense spending. We’re spending over half a trillion a year on defense. And because, as I noted, defense spending gets a pass on the paygo rules and it is politically acceptable, there’s plenty of pork shoveled into those defense bills. Military spending has always been the #1 way of getting pork. How often has Congress given the Pentagon more money than they’ve requested?
I could care less about appearing bipartisan. What I care about is fiscal conservatism. Yes, I recognize that the cuts here aren’t likely to reduce overall expenditures and Gates has said the cost savings will go elsewhere. But if it gets the military thinking about where it can streamline and cut spending – especially if that streamlining results in greater support for the warfighter – I’m for it.
I think there are a lot of Republicans here who wouldn’t be complaining about these cuts if they hit San Diego.
Alan, I completely agree. The Obama Administration’s priorities are completely out of whack. Rigell was right to call them out on this and he is the right person to lead us in the 2nd district.
Ried, Rigell was 11 days late. Thinking people, typically seniors, see that Kenny was right. Kenny called this one well in advance because he knows the military. Kenny Golden is no step child of the right, he is experienced with military issues and operations, budgeting processes and much more.. the gop left Kenny and now they are like a lamb in the woods with Rigell. Do you think you can make a fair comparison between any candidate in this state and Kenny Golden on military matters? Keep it in perspective guys.
Frankly, in matters of great change, the original announcements usually end up being about 25% correct. In this case, in the hand off of functions, it is quite possible that much manpower and responsibility will be transferred to other commands, many of which are located here in Hampton Roads. Yes, there will be impacts, but it is not as if Hampton Roads has not seen these DoD transformations before. Usually, as one door closes, another opens. Let’s keep some perspectve on this matter.
@Mike Barrett
A week or so ago you made a comment about how the economy was improving which I disagreed with.
Since I had an empty rental unit about 10 minutes from JFCOM in Suffolk; I decided to judge who was correct about the economy by how long it took me to rent the unit.
I put a home-made sign in the window and rented the unit within 48 hours. So I guess you won.
I promise that in the future that I will give as much attention to anything that you write as I do to Joe Biden. While I rarely agree with Joe Biden, I will always consider what he has to say.
So you now have Joe Biden status with me.
Thanks James, but I tend to look at broader indicators. In the recent release from the Brookings Institute that rates the fiscal performance of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation, Hampton Roads was in the top two in performance across the broad range of indicators they use. Our economy is improving and will continue to do so despite the 30,000 or so job cuts made necessary by the added $2 B in cuts by Governor McDonnell and the General Assembly.
Brian – If you are serious about going where the money is being spent then we need to reform medicare and social security. That is where the money is. Eliminating fraud and abuse alone would give us astronomical savings. Effectively phasing those programs out, which I admit is a longshot, would solve all of our fiscal problems…for the time being.
close it. save the money. the local economy will be fine. “saving jobs” is a local red herring.
When your rental units are empty it is a recession, when my units are empty it is a depression.
From http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/indexes/discover_consumer_spending_monitor/discover_r_consumer_spending_monitor_sm
Consumer confidence fell for the third straight month as more consumers rated current economic conditions as poor, and fewer see the economy improving, according to the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor for July 2010.
Overall, 58 percent rate the U.S. economy as poor, a 7-point increase from June, and only 23 percent see economic conditions improving in the month ahead, the lowest this number has been in a year.
As Confidence Falls, So Do Spending Intentions
Consumers’ spending intentions had held steady and even risen during the spring and early part of summer. But July’s sharp decline in economic confidence may have consumers altering their spending behavior. Twenty-six percent of consumers reported they are planning to reduce their overall spending in the month ahead, a 3-point rise from June and the highest number reported since January.
Monitor data also suggests that consumers plan to reduce discretionary spending in the following areas:
Going out to dinner, movies or sporting events (48 percent compared to 46 percent in June)
Home remodeling or new appliances (48 percent compared to 47 percent in June)
Vacation, or gym membership (48 percent compared to 46 percent in June)
“Economic uncertainty appears to be weighing on consumers’ discretionary spending intentions,” said Julie Loeger, senior vice president of brand and product management for Discover. “In the spring, more consumers felt the economy was improving and that correlated with an overall increase in discretionary spending intentions. Monitor data now suggests consumers’ economic confidence is declining, and with that, so are their discretionary spending intentions.”
Personally I consider the economy to be steady; however it is sending out mixed signals for the future.
Economic uncertainty by consumers bothers me.
I am also curious on what effect the JFCOM closing will have on the Hampton Roads economy in the coming months.
However on 08/11/2011 we will know.
Alan,
You are missing a key point – there is no cut to defense spending. Gates is merely moving the “savings” from whatever is left from the phase out of JFCOM to other defense programs.
Also, you and I are in violent agreement. After entitlements are paid for, we have to borrow every dime to pay for everything else – including what’s enumerated in the Constitution, Jeremy. That’s a problem.
“Consultants say closing JFCOM might violate federal law” – http://hamptonroads.com/2010/08/consultants-say-closing-jfcom-might-violate-federal-law
A company with a name like “Akin Gump” and then this quote from one of their “advisors” with a name like “Ryan Vaart”, I wonder if the VP is pulling some kind of a joke…
“Ryan Vaart, another Akin Gump advisor, said Gates should have a lot of power to shape the defense department.”
Commodore Kenneth E. Golden USN Ret. Press release with regards to JFCOM
http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/kenny-golden-for-congress/the-approaching-military-economic-crisis/429161496879
JR, as usual you get it right. Sec. Gates will take the money and move it up to DC where it will be used to increase their coffers and bureacracy up there, that’s my fear. JFCOM was created because the Joint Staff, OSD, and the Services can’t get it right with regard to “Jointness”. Goldwater-Nichols was a start but JFCOM was the culmination and many of the great joint efforts we have going for us will fall by the wayside and many unique functions JFCOM does simply can’t be done elsewhere. NATO and ACT are tremendous concerns as we have made major strides there in Coalition Operations, mainly through JFCOM and ACT cooperation as co-equals. Will ACT now follow suit and have severe reductions. Industry has also taken a huge hit with the closing as well as ODU and VMASC. All a very bad situation for HR. All the best. Kenny
In all due respect, Commands come and go; we have been the recipient of great news and bitter disappointment for centuries, yet we have always survived as the Navy’s most important strategic asset on the East Coast and the home to hundreds of thousands of DoD personnel and their families. The measure of all of us in this time of disruption is to focus on the strategic advantages we enjoy, and maintain and sustain the critical functions that are important to public and private entities looking to come to our area. We have failed miserably in sustaining our transportation infrastructure, and that is the worst problem with which we have to deal.
Mike, with all of these people leaving with the loss of the Carriers and JFCOM and the eventual negative effects of the “trickle-down” through the local economies, who’s going to be left that you can tax?
Hampton Roads is quickly losing any economic “status” it had with the state, and will eventually become a footnote in the state transportation budget which will be focused on the “transportation infrastructure” needs of Northern Virginia.
Well Tim, you have let the emotion of the moment cloud both your consideration of the facts and your judgement. To put this in perspective, Hampton Roads is one of only three metropolitan areas over a population of 1 M, that had an increase in both net earnings and personal income in 2009. Yes, we have felt the effects of the great recession, but we have done better than most. How this closure, if it happens, will effect us has yet to be ascertained. In similar cases in the past, many personnel and contractors have been reassigned to other local commands; I hope that is what happens in this case. As far as transportation, the real issue is the intrasigence, no worse, the intentional policy of the House of Delegates to destroy our transportation infrastructure thgough under resourcing it. That can be changed if we change Delegates.
Mike, I’m choking down my emotion because you have reinforced my argument about “our tranportation infrastructure” being a priority in other parts of Virginia, not Hampton Roads. That is why you supported a regional taxing authority to “fill in the transportation infrastructure budget pot holes” that was a result of “the intentional policy of the House of Delegates to destroy our transportation infrastructure through under resourcing it.”
So, we are losing both directly and indirectly and in a very public way, and if you have some information that the rest of us don’t have that “many personnel and contractors have been reassigned to other local commands”, please enlighten us.
Or maybe you should get an invitation to attend the briefing in the VMASC conference room next Wednesday about the JFCOM closing where Representatives Randy Forbes, Bobby Scott, Glenn Nye, and Rob Wittman will discuss JFCOM strategy with state representatives, local elected leaders, and industry representatives. You can drive up at VMASC in your limo, walk into the conference room with your body guards with the press recording your every move and hanging on every syllable. You can then offer your “strategy” how ”many personnel and contractors” can be “reassigned to other local commands” which will “oooo” and “ahhh” the politicians, military, and local businesses who will be directly affected. Before you are finished enlightening the assembled, your body guards had better draw their weapons and you had better head for the exits because there will be lots of people chasing you.
Well Tim, sarcasm aside, the Commonwealth has embarked on a campaign to undermine our once efficient transportation system. While you claim this is a regional issue, you are wrong; it is entirely a statewide problem. The failure of our Delegates to deal with this issue has been an embarrassment for democratic and republican Governors alike.
In regard to JFCOM, I expect to receive a brief from Congressman Nye on Monday, and will be at VMASC on Thursday. Frankly, all the briefings aside, this appears to be a done deal. As I said earlier, no one knows at this point what the net effect will be on Hampton Roads, and I don’t expect we will really know that for at least six months. Above, I made it clear that…”In similar cases in the past, many personnel and contractors have been reassigned to other local commands…” I say again, I hope that will be the case this time as well.
Mike, interesting… didn’t see you on the invite list from Dee Gilmore….
JFCOM: An Insider’s Perspective
http://kennygolden.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98:jfcom-an-insiders-perspective-&catid=39:campaign-news&Itemid=92
@Mike Barrett
You said “In the recent release from the Brookings Institute that rates the fiscal performance of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation,”
I have been looking around http://www.brookings.edu/ but I can not find the release. Could you give a web address for it please. I have been reading various posting from brookings and I have a much better understanding of some your economic ideas now.
“the Commonwealth has embarked on a campaign to undermine our once efficient transportation system”
Do you really think that Mr J.R. Hoeft had a meeting with republicans and other civic leaders at 11AM this morning on 1st Colonial Road, Virginia Beach where they planned a campaign to destroy the transportation system of Virginia?
I think not, Sir.
I am willing to go along with every else that you are saying. However when you talk of “the intentional policy of the House of Delegates to destroy our transportation infrastructure”; I think that perhaps you are letting the “emotion of the moment cloud both your consideration of the facts and your judgement.”
Perhaps I am wrong. Please feel free to show me.
Yes, my reference was incorrect. It was data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
In regard to your sarcastic remark about the destruction of our transportation system, I offer the following: the American Society of Civil Engineers, Virginia Chapter, gave Virginia a D- for the condition of our roads and bridges, and we have continued to allow the system to decay and deteriorate since then.
If I, as a commercial property manager, allowed this consistent policy of neglect to gradually destroy the value of our commercial assets, I would be fired immediately. Instead, we re-elect these Delegates, who, through their dereliction of duty, have allowed our roads, bridges, and highways to crumble and fail.
This is a travesty which instead of drawing your sarcasm should draw your attention.
Mike’s old word… “draconian”, Mike’s new word… “sarcasm”
Well Tim J., you chide me for my choice of words, clearly believing that I overstate the case of the neglect of our House of Delegates for our transportation infrastructure. Of course, I call Governor McDonnell as my witness, as he himself has said that the condition of our transportation network threatens the attainment of his economic development goals. Now, criticize me all you want, I could care not one wit, but if you do, realize that I have the Governor on my side.
Mike, the only thing that you selectively agree with Gov. McDonnell on is his observation on “our transportation network”, but you have repeatedly slapped him about his revenue and tax policies with which you don’t agree. Don’t let us start noticing that you are adding two new words in your progressive lexicon… “chide” and “criticize”….
Ironically Tim J, when one is not an ideologue nor a evangelical, one is free to analyze and evaluate issues without prejudice. Fact is, I agree with the Governor on many issues, and feel totally free to express that support. I disagree with him on other issues. I thought that was what a citizen interested in the public interest was required to do. Apparently, you think otherwise. Too bad.
No, Mike… I detest “progressive” or “conservative” hypocrisy on “public interest” issues where someone places “their own interest” in front of the “public interest”.
Well, we are in agreement then. Have a nice weekend.
[...] August 14, 2010 | Comments (0) This week cannot come to a close fast enough for Glenn Nye. First, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gutted Nye’s re-election bid by moving to shut down JFCOM. Second, a pro-Israel group announced plans rightfully condemning Nye for signing an ill-advised [...]
When it comes to transportation:
Everyone seems to agree Virginia needs to do something about the transportation infrastructure. Where disagreement comes in is how to fund it.
I will point out that the ATA (American Trucking Association), the OOIDA (Owner Operator Independent Driver Association) and the VTA (Virginia Trucking Association) all agree that the fairest, most efficient method of raising increased revenue when such revenue is justified is to raise the fuel tax. Now, these associations have a vested interest and would benefit most from an efficient transportation infrastructure. But I wish to point out that they have no interest in shooting Virginia’s economy, or the greater American economy as a whole, in the foot. If the economy is booming, there is more freight to be hauled. Truckers love it when economic activity is robust.
However truckers question when some are in favor of paying for transportation infrastructure with tolls. Nationally the average is for a third of the revenue collected in tolls goes toward paying for the costs of collecting the tolls. We want to see as much of the money we pay ending up in the asphalt, not paying for the costs of a bloated tollway authority payroll.
Senator Wagner must go. He’s a leading proponent of toll roads and he is leading us towards a needlessly large public payroll and an inefficient solution to our transportation problems. If Wagner is such a fool on something I am an expert about, just where is his head on issues I know nothing about? Well I know he is a fool on transportation issues and he needs to go.
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