Defense and Economy. Obama takes action for accountability. VMI y el Plan Marshall

I'm very pleased to transcrip, thinking in Spain, two important issues on Defense and Economy from U.S.:

1. Obama Says Budget Signifies New Way Forward for Defense

In a speech mainly focused on the state of the economy, President Barack Obama also honored the nation's men and women in uniform, vowing to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps, raise military pay and provide the medical care veterans deserve. Here, casi en español de Castilla, Obama's remarks before Congress as-prepared.

2. By the way, supporting Defense accountability, Acquisition Undersecretary Nominated

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2009 – President Barack Obama announced yesterday that he will nominate Ashton Carter to be the next undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Carter is the chairman of the International and Global Affairs faculty at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He served as assistant secretary of defense for International Security Policy from 1993 to 1996.

If confirmed to the post held by John Young since 2007, Carter would oversee a sweeping defense acquisition reform effort.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called overhauling the way the department buys goods and services and manages taxpayer dollars one of the biggest challenges it faces.

“A risk-averse culture, a litigious process, parochial interests, excessive and changing requirements, budget churn and instability and sometimes adversarial relationships” within the department and other parts of government have made acquisition reform a priority, Gates said last month during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

If confirmed as undersecretary, Carter would be the point man in the difficult procurement decisions Gates told the senators would begin with Obama’s fiscal 2010 defense budget request.

Thinking in Spain too, I link Virginia Military Institute Course Catalogue 2008-2009. (Plan de Estudios de VMI)

No hay liderazgo militar responsable sometido al liderazgo civil democrático sin adecuada preparación universitaria integral para los mejores -según sus hechos- desde el principio.

Los "soldaditos de plomo" que desfilan en la foto son de VMI, unos serán militares de carrera y otros empresarios e, incluso, políticos por oficio.

La estatua es de un tal George Marshall, el del plan... Dondequiera que esté su alma, estará complacido de conocer las noticias arriba transcritas...