Liberal Dems say Pentagon spending cuts should be doubled

The White House should cut nearly twice the $487 billion it has committed to reducing the Pentagon's budget, according to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and other liberal Democrats.


The liberals say the planned cuts, announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, don't go nearly far enough to reduce the defense budget.

“The Cold War is long over and no remotely comparable adversary has emerged or is likely to emerge,” the Democrats wrote in a letter to Obama. “We believe that savings of around $900 billion over the next 10 ears can be realized. We ask you to take even bolder leadership on this issue as you finalize your budget.”

Besides Frank, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) signed on to the letter calling for deep spending cuts and the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan this year.

CONTINUED:http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-approriations/207047-pentagon-cuts-arent-deep-enough-for-some-democrats