Department+of+Defense

** By Jessica and Jinoh **
=♣ **MISSION STATEMENT ** =

"The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, consisting of about 1.7 million men and women on active duty. Of these, some 518,000 -- including about 67,000 on ships at sea -- are serving outside the United States. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the 1,000,000 members of the reserve components. In addition, there are about 1.1 million civilian employees in the Defense Department. Under the President, who is also Commander in Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the separately organized military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the unified and specified combatant commands, and various defense agencies established for specific purposes."

=♣ **HISTORY** =

During 1945, plans for the proposed Department of Defense were put forth by the Army, the Navy, and the Joint Chief in Staff. In a message to Congress on December 19, 1945, President Harry Truman proposed that there be a unified Department of National Defense. A proposal went to Congress in April 1946, but was held up by the Naval Affairs Committee hearings in July 1946. This caused problems becauase many didn't feel it was good to have such a large amount of power in a single department. Truman eventually sent new legislation to Congress in February 1947, where it was debated and amended for many months.

The Department of Defense was created in the year 1947 as a national military establishment with a single secretary as its head. This head presided over the once-Department of War (founded in 1789) and Department of the Navy Department of the Air Force was also created as a new service at the same time, and made part of the Department of Defense. This department was created in order to decrease interservice rivalry which was believed to have reduced military effectiveness during World War II.

=♣ **AGENCIES** =

The Department of Defense coordinates and supervises all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. The organization and functions of the DOD are set forth in Title 10 of the United States Code. The DOD is the major tenant of The Pentagon building near Washington, D.C., and has three major components – the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy , and the Department of the Air Force. **//The Department of the Navy//**: was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798, to provide administrative and technical support, and civilian leadership to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. **//The Department of the Air Force//**: is the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States.
 * //The Department of the Army//**: is headed by the Secretary of the Army, who is responsible for the administrative affairs of the United States Army.

=♣ **BUDGET** =


 * Provides $533.7 billion for the Department of Defense base budget in 2010, a four-percent increase over 2009.
 * Includes $75.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for 2009 and $130.0 billion for 2010 to support ongoing overseas contingency operations, while increasing efforts in Afghanistan and drawing down troops from Iraq responsibly.
 * Supports a transparent budget process, which simultaneously and separately requests estimated base budget and overseas contingency operations costs.
 * Expands concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation for those disabled upon retirement from active duty.
 * Improves efforts to care for wounded servicemembers and to treat mental health needs.

=♣ CURRENT MAJOR LEADERS =



The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy adviser to the president and is responsible for the general defense policy and policy related to all matters to the Department of Defense. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary shows authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense. He is also a member of the Presidential Cabinet and of the National Security Counsel.



//Gordon England//

The Deputy Secretary of Defense is given full power and authority to act for the Secretary of Defense and exercise the powers of the Secretary on any and all matters for which the Secretary is authorized to act pursuant to law.

=♣ ARTICLES =

** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">1. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Wallsten, Peter; Barnes Julian E.; Miller, Greg. "Truthout." US To Reveal Alleged Prison Abuse Photos. 24 April, 2009. The Los Angeles Times. 27 April, 2009 < <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">[|__http://www.truthout.org/ 042409S__]>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Obama administration agreed on Thursday to release numerous photos of the alleged abuses at U.S. prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Bush rein. The decision will make public for the first time photos gathered in military investigations at facilities. Forty-four photos that the American Civil Liberties Union was seeking in a court case, plus a large amount of other images, will be released by May 28. Some of the photos show U.S. service members threatening prisoners by pointing weapons at them, according to officials who have seen them. There are sitll many more meathods of torture photographed, as well. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> ** 2. **<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fox News. “Politics.” __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Defense Department to Release Photos Showing Detainee Treatment in Iraq, Afghanistan __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. 23 April, 2009. Fox News. 27 April, 2009 < [|http://www.foxnews.com/ politics/first100days/2009/04/ 23/defense-department-release- prisoner-abuse-photos/]>.
 * TOPIC ONE: US To Reveal Prison Abuse Photographs

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Obama administration came to a conclusion to allow the release of many pictures of alleged abuse at U.S. prisons in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was truly a disgusting display of American cruelty and immaturity, and such a crime should never happen again. The information will be made public once all pictures are obtained. There are some who do not agree with the release of these photos, but they are still being released. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">** 3. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Chicago Tribune. “Topics.” US To Reveal Alleged Prison Abuse Photos. 23 April, 2009. The Chicago Tribune. 27 April, 2009 <[|http://www.obamachronicles. org/2009/04/24/us-to-reveal- alleged-prison-abuse-photos/]>. Forty-four disturbing photos of Americans making Afghan war captives are going to be released to the public soon, but after the military investigates other prisons in the area. These horrid images depict the immature and disgusting humor of some Americans. The decision has been made my President Obama and his administration and is attacking the past actions of the Bush administration.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**TOPIC TWO: Gate's Budget Cut 1.[] by Elizabeth Bumiller, April 7 2009

Gate’s proposal for cutting the defense budget caused problem.One side argues that this cut is prudent and the other side opposed the plan. Senator James Inhofe said that F.C.S is the future of the soldiers and weapons. He argued that without the F.C.S we are putting sons and daughters in danger. Generals of army and advisors thinks that this cut will put the country on the risk, but at the same time, will speed up the other systems. The cut made the air force officer to attack Gate’s budget cut.

2. Congress took action against the New Budget cut [] April 7 2009 **

Gate’s 2010 budget shift will face opposition of the Capitol Hill. This new shift reflects the major change in the “scope and significance.” Gate stated that this cut is not much about the cuts.; rather it is rebalancing. The proposed overall missile defense system budget was trimmed by 1.4 billion dollars. Senators argued that it should not be allowed to make critical cut in defense system and risk the homeland security. Gate, on the other hand, argued that the budget had to be rebalanced and this was a proper action to take.

3.Politicians battle for defense spending, more jobs [] by Andrew Johnson, May 3 2009

Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are angling to preserve millions of dollars in defense projects that contractors might lose under proposed cuts.The programs are now provide thousands of jobs for the workers in Arizona. The senator Franks is concerned with both the jobs and the national security. Franks thinks that in long term, the defense cut will cause the economic problem as well as security problems. Rick Whittington, an aerospace defense analyst in Beaver Creek, Colo., with JSA Research Inc., said he doubted earmark requests or contractors' lobbying efforts would have much of an impact this year. Whittington thinks that Gate's new proposal has a lot to go through. =**♣ LETTERS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA **=


 * LETTER ONE:**

//To President Obama:// //It has been recently declared that you and your political comrades are going to reveal the alleged abuse photos of prisons in Afghanistan. I personally believe that this is a great idea because I believe that the public should see and understand the horrors that do, in fact, happen overseas. Although this is a stab to the past Bush administration, I think that it is necessary. Such abuse and cruelty is absolutely unnecessary and inhumane.// //There is no need to force captives to do such moronic things and for our men to take pictures of it.// //So I agree with the actions being done and I feel that this may enlighten our country.//

//Regards,// //Jessica//


 * LETTER TWO:**

//To President Obama I think the new proposal for the defense budget cut is good idea. Although the senators from states are arguing that new budget cut will casue economic and national security problems, but I have different opinion on that. New budget cut will allow us to create other jobs that will cover the unemployment that would be created by the proposal, and the new jobs will be more likely to help the economy, because those jobs would be focused on rather current issues. The amount of fund that is cutted with this new proposal is not significant enough to create the national security problem either. Lowered budget will make industries to focus more on making the necessary items rather than extras. Please consider what you read on this letter. Sincerely, Jinoh//