Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) took on DepSecDef William Lynn on the issue of shutting down Joint Forces Command without a proper review or justification other than "hey, the Defense Business Board thought it was a good idea."
At Tuesday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Webb accused Pentagon officials of deliberately withholding information from the state delegation, both before the decision was made and after the delegation demanded justification for it.
"I believe in another sport it's called 'stiff-arming,' " said Webb, who complained that he received a phone call informing him of Gates's decision only 15 minutes before it was publicly announced. Webb added that the decision stemmed from a series of meetings to which "we did not have access, we did not have the chance to provide input."
Webb said that the Pentagon's failure to provide much of the "basic data" that he and his colleagues requested "has led me to conclude that there is no comprehensive analysis" to back up the decision. He said the situation raises "the larger question about how serious DOD really is about lasting reform on a larger scale."
So maybe he slows down the shut-down of 6000 jobs in Suffolk, Virginia. Or was it all kabuki theater? I can't figure it out.
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