Obama to Discontinue Tomahawk and Hellfire Missile Programs

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The Obama administration has told us they plan to reduce the American Military to a level it has not been since before World War II, seeking a drastic reduction in numbers, cost, and apparently capabilities.  On the chopping block, now, are two of the most successful missile programs we have, which have been an integral part of the United States Navy maintaining military superiority for the past several decades.

Among the proposed missile systems to be scrapped is the Tomahawk missile system, touted as the world's most advanced cruise missile.  The program is slated to be cut by $128 million under Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, and will be completely eliminated from military spending by fiscal year 2016.

The other program facing cancellation is the well-regarded and highly effective Hellfire missiles, which will be eliminated in 2015.

Legislators and military experts have both warned that cutting these missiles would significantly erode America’s ability to deter enemy forces.  How the executive branch plans to do this without the constitutional participation of the House of Representatives is yet to be seen, and will be, in a word, "unconstitutional."

At the current rate of usage, the stock of missiles on hand after the elimination of new missiles being produced will be completely depleted by around 2018. The Pentagon does not have a replacement missile ready to take the Tomahawk’s place.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said Seth Cropsey, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for American Seapower. “This really moves the U.S. away from a position of influence and military dominance.”

Cropsey said that if someone were trying to “reduce the U.S. ability to shape events” in the world, “they couldn’t find a better way than depriving the U.S. fleet of Tomahawks. It’s breathtaking.”

While the military as a whole is seeing its budgets reduced and equipment scaled back, the Tomahawk cuts do not appear to be due to a lack of funds.

Supporters of the cuts indicate the funds that would normally go into the production of Tomahawks and Helfires will go into the development of a replacement missile system. . . but we all know that democrats lie, and that the "development story" is probably not the truth.  This is a purposeful reduction in America's defensive capabilities.

Barack Obama, and the democrats, believe that the United States is the source of evil in the world, and they want to knock us down a few notches.  Besides, in line with the liberal left philosophy of fairness and the redistribution of wealth, they apparently are working towards reducing American superiority so that we are on the same level as our allies. . . weak, defenseless, and vulnerable.

It is also important to note that the democrats claim we cannot reduce spending because it is dangerous to do so. . . until it comes to the defense capabilities of this nation.  Then, they are willing to cut our military spending back to the stone age.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Obama to kill Navy's Tomahawk, Hellfire missile programs in budget decimation - Washington Times

Chuck Hagel to shrink Army to pre-World War II levels, report says - Washington Times

Chuck Hagel: U.S. can afford diminished military -Washington Times