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Written by SHARLA TORRE MONTVEL-COHEN
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Monday, November 21, 2011
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GUAM – Despite a flurry of last-minute proposals and meetings to hammer out a bipartisan deficit reduction plan, the super committee looks set to fail its mandate and miss its Nov. 23 deadline for a deal. The missed deadline to agree on a plan for shrinking the U.S. deficit by at least $1.2 trillion will trigger across-the-board cuts of domestic and defense spending, with the Pentagon taking the biggest hit.
Although the sequester cuts won't take effect until Jan. 2013, they will throw the Guam military buildup and other defense programs into limbo at least until the elections next November. The sequester would shrink the Pentagon's budget by almost $1 trillion over the next 10 years.If sequestration leads to a revision of national security strategy – as the Pentagon has said it would – its impact on the Guam buildup would dwarf the current tussle over 2012 appropriations and defense authorizations.
The Senate wants to delay another $155 million for buildup-related military construction and $33 million for associated civilian infrastructure in the overdue spending package and authorizations for fiscal year 2012. Meanwhile, stressing the importance of securing a volatile Asia and upholding the U.S.-Japan alliance, the Obama Administration, the Pentagon and the House of Representatives all continue to push back on Senate opposition to the buildup.
For the latest on the deficit super committee, read this report from The Hill: Deficit supercommittee members expected to announce failure.
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Image used in this article courtesy Renjith Krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
- 30/11/2011 15:32 - Latest Drawback in Tokyo’s Quest to Build Understanding with Okinawans on Marine Basing Issue
- 29/11/2011 09:38 - Senate Democrats Aim to Solve 2012 Appropriations, Including Military Construction for Guam, Through Omnibus Spending Bill in December
- 28/11/2011 10:37 - Pentagon Caught in Chess Game: While Obama Moves to Force a Deficit Deal, Republican Defense Hawks Rally to Undo Trigger Cuts; More Waiting for Guam Military Buildup
- 25/11/2011 11:08 - Temporary Budget Extensions Add to Guam Military Buildup Planning Headaches
- 23/11/2011 07:28 - As Super Committee Fails, Pressure Mounts to Avoid Blanket Budget Slashing at Pentagon; Yearlong Freeze for Guam Military Buildup Can Still Be Avoided
- 14/11/2011 06:14 - Secretary Clinton, Japan’s Gemba Stress Futenma Replacement Will Proceed; Panetta and Dempsey Call on Congress to Solve Budget
- 12/11/2011 16:59 - Guam Company Wins $7 Million Tree Trimming and Grounds Maintenance Contract for Various Military Facilities
- 10/11/2011 14:44 - As Super Committee Democrats Reject Latest Republican Deal, Panetta Calls on Congress to ‘Show Some Leadership’
- 08/11/2011 08:01 - Impact of Significant Pentagon Cuts: Secretary Panetta Says Asia-Pacific Presence a Priority, Confirms Commitment to “Establishment of an Operational Marine Presence on Guam”
- 07/11/2011 09:01 - With Past Appropriations Sitting Unused, Navy Needs Reassurance from Congress to Spend; Guam Projects Remain in Limbo
