Before he stepped down as America’s defence chief earlier this year, Robert Gates set out a plan to streamline the Pentagon’s bloated post-9/11 budget. Events may be about to make Mr Gates’ efficiencies look very modest. Last week’s failure by the super-committee to agree on a 10-year $1,200bn tightening in the US budget means the military faces automatic cuts of almost $600bn.
They would come in addition to the $450bn already agreed – taking the total to about $1,000bn in the next decade. Barack Obama, US president, has promised to veto any bill that disarmed these so-called sequesters, which would come into effect in January 2013.
It is still possible that Congress could agree on a fiscal package in the next year and save the Pentagon from the worst-case scenario. It would be unwise for the Pentagon to bet on it, however. Nor should Leon Panetta, the new defence secretary, count on Mr Obama backing down at the last minute. In addition to the left of the Democratic party, many Tea Party Republicans would be happy to slash defence.