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POGO’s experts push policymakers to enact commonsense reforms that tackle waste, corruption, and abuse of power; hold those who’ve violated the public trust accountable; protect our constitutional rights; and make the government work for all people.
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AnalysisOut of Step
The National Journal has been sponsoring a weekly blog on defense issues. This week's question for debate was "After the F-22 Vote, What's Next?" The director of the CDI Straus Military Reform Project, Winslow Wheeler, was asked to help kick off the blogging...
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Analysis
Experts, Contractors, and the F-35 Alternate Engine
After voting 58-40 to remove funding for additional F-22 fighter jets from the annual defense authorization bill, the Senate is turning its attention to the nation's other jet fighter program, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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Analysis
Highlights from the SIGTARP Hearing
The media's coverage of the new quarterly report by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) has largely focused on one shocking number: $23.7 trillion.
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AnalysisFlu Vaccine Shortage? The Whole Truth, Please.
As the H1N1 swine flu pandemic spreads, Americans who are counting on swine flu vaccine this fall are likely to be disappointed.
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Analysis
Flu Vaccine Shortage? The Whole Truth, Please.
As the H1N1 swine flu pandemic spreads, Americans who are counting on swine flu vaccine this fall are likely to be disappointed.
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Analysis
New Reports and Testimony from TARP Watchdog
The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) just released its latest quarterly report to Congress, and Special IG Neil Barofsky will be testifying about it tomorrow morning before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
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Analysis
Excerpts of Gates’ Speech
Yesterday in Chicago, Secretary of Defense Gates gave an important and well-reported speech about the current state of play for his defense budget and what Congress is doing to it. The F-22 was a focus, but his remarks were broader. They might have been even broader, and perha...
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AnalysisOpen Political Graves or the Merits?
Straus Military Reform Project Director Winslow Wheeler introduces the history of arguing in favor of irrational aircraft programs from the Kennedy administration to the Reagan-era, along with current arguments by today's F-22 boosters, issues explained in a recent piece by Ge...
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Analysis
Gates Is Right on the F-22
Next week the Senate will likely debate an amendment to strip out of the National Defense Authorization Bill 7 additional F-22 fighters—made (according to Lockheed) in 44 states. Almost universally seen as an extraordinary (but hugely expensive) fighter, the F-22 has for too l...
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Analysis
Spigot Wide Open
In a June 10 commentary in The Washington Post, Michael O'Hanlon argued that President Obama's plans for the defense budget are "insufficient to support the national security establishment over the next five years."
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Analysis
Audit of Blackwater Iraq Contract Finds Improper Charges, Weak Enforcement
The State Department failed to punish Blackwater (now known as Xe) for significant violations of its Iraq security contract. This and other shortcomings were detailed in a joint audit report released Monday by the State Department Inspector General and the Special Inspector Ge...
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Analysis
Lessons Learned from Obama’s Removal of CNCS Inspector General
On Friday, we blogged about the President's removal of Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Inspector General Gerald Walpin. As I learn more about this case, I'm realizing there are a few "teachable moments."