By Mario Trujillo
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned that operating on a continuing resolution through FY 2011 would disrupt military operations and even the GOP House spending bill falls $4 billion short of what the defense department needs through the end of the year.
Gates testified that the Department of Defense requires an estimated $540 billion in FY 2011 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Wednesday. His testimony came hours after the Senate approved the House’s two-week continuing resolution to give both sides time to agree on a spending bill for the rest of the year.
Since October the government has been operating on a continuing resolution that funds the military at FY 2010 levels — $526 billion. Though the spending bill passed in the House increases that by $8 billion, Gates said that is not sufficient and operations and maintenance would be the hardest hit.
Gates also defended the DoD’s $553 billion budget request for FY 2012 and an extra $117.8 for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Switching topics, both Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen spoke of the reality of implementing a no-fly zone in Libya.
“There is a lot of loose talk, frankly, about these military options. And lets just call a spade a spade. A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses,” Gates said.
Gates said that kind of task would require more planes than fit on a single aircraft carrier. Gates noted, though, that the military is capable if so ordered.
“It is a big operation in a big country,” Gates said.
The United Nation Security Council resolution against Libya does not authorize the use of force. Admiral Mullen also said it has not been officially confirmed that any Libyan aircraft has fired on its own people, though there has been some reports.
This comes a day after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the White House press secretary said no option is off the table with Libya.