Mindboggling Big Military (cont.)

I. Where Does the Pentagon's Money Go?
The answer is that we don't know, because the Pentagon's books are such a mess that they can't even be audited, despite a 1997 requirement that federal agencies submit to annual audits.

The Government Accountability Office notes that the Pentagon has "serious financial management problems" that makes its financial statements "inauditable." The Pentagon's financial operations occupy one-fifth of the GAO's list of federal programs with a high risk to waste, fraud, or inefficiency.

Critics also contend that the Pentagon cooks its books by using unorthodox accounting methods that make its budgetary needs seem more urgent. The agency insists it will "achieve audit readiness" by 2117.

1997 - First time the Pentagon was required to be audited.
2017 - When the Pentagon says it will be ready for an audit.

II. Ways to Save a Few Billion
Here are 10 ideas for major cuts from an array of defense wonks, from the libertarian Cato Institute and the liberal Center for American Progress to the conservative American Enterprise Institute. A complete list of ideas can be found at motherjones.com/pentagon.

Proposal
Get rid of all ICBMs and nuclear bombers (but keep nuclear-armed submarines).
Estimated Savings - $20 billion/year

Retire two of the Navy's 11 aircraft carrier groups.
Estimated Savings - $50 billion through 2020

Cut the size of the Army and Marines to pre-9/11 levels.
Estimated Savings - At least $80 billion over 10 years

Slow down or cancel the F-35 fighter jet program.
Estimated savings - At least $4 billion/year

Downsize military headquarters that grew after 9/11/
Estimated Savings - $8 billion/year

Cancel the troubled V-22 Osprey tiltrotor and use helicopters instead.
Estimated Savings - At least $1.2 billion

Modify supplemental Medicare benefits for veterans.
Estimated Savings - $40 billion over 10 years

Scale back purchases of littoral combat ships.
Estimated Savings - $2 billion in 2013

Cap spending on military contractors below 2012 levels.
Estimated Savings - $2.9 billion/year

Retire the Cold War-era B-1 bomber.
Estimated Savings - $3.7 billions over 5 years.

III. An Itemized Pentagon Budget (2012 figures)
The Pentagon handed $361 billion to contractors in 2012. Some items on its shopping list:

$32.6 Billion   - Planes and helicopters
$10.4 Billion   - Guided Missiles
 $5.2 Billion    - Combat/assault vehicles
 $3.9 Billion    - Amphibious assault ships
 $3.6 Billion    - Space Vehicles
 $3.4 Billion    - Submarines
 $2.2 Billion    -  Combat ships and landing vessels
 $2.2 Billion    - Unmanned aircraft and drones
 $1.5 Billion    - Aircraft carriers
 $1.0 Billion    - Bombs

All of the above information comes from the special report on the military found in the January/February 2014 issue of Mother Jones. Although the information is two years old, it does provide a comprehensive look at the Pentagon's role in U.S. society.