Pentagon's new budget

Defense Secretary Robert Gates introduced the new Pentagon budget today. Where his budget becomes noteworthy, is the dramatic shift Gates is making away from current technology, to towards future technology.

For example, in the new budget, Gates decreased funding for the F-22 fighter made by Lockhead Martin. Only 187 F-22 fighters will be produced. However, Gates increased funding for Lockhead Martin's next model, the F-35, which is not yet in production (as far as we know). Dramatic cuts were also made in the "Future Combat Systems" program, and the proposed new fleet of presidential helicopters was canceled.

As far as the Navy is concerned, the new budget shifts focus from larger ships and submarines, to smaller, faster, more mobile units.

To put a different spin on this...I will put on my nerd hat. If you do not have a nerd hat, feel free to stop reading.

Imagine this is all an eight person free-for-all game of StarCraft on a money map, and the United States is Protoss. It is early game and the United States is playing a bunch of noobs who don't know build orders and are way behind. The U.S. has effectively bunkered in by building 8 photon cannons at the entrance behind a row of pylons, and a few more cannons around the base to prevent spies. In the base are a 10 zealots, 5 dragoons, and 20 probes.

Any attack on the U.S. right now will result in Uber Pwnage.

Because the U.S. is bunkered in, proper strategy dictates that it needs to shift focus from building up numbers, to research and technology. Therefore, when a noob gets brave and attacks, he will come with a 150 or so basic units. Superior numbers of basic units that have only been upgraded with level 2 sheilds.

By that time, the U.S. will have a fleet of arbiters supporting a fully upgraded army of archons, reavers, carriers, zealots and dragoons. Victory will be swift and complete.