The Wall Street Journal: on Homeland Security

Donald Trump: F-35 program out-of-control; cut billions in military costs

This is the third time in recent days that Trump has unloaded on a defense program. Last week, Trump claimed the government's second-largest defense contractor, Boeing Co., had run up costs in the development of new Air Force One aircraft. The developer of the F-35 program is the government's largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp.

"Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th," Trump wrote on Twitter, referring to the day he is sworn in as president.

The comment was similar to criticism Trump made on Fox News Sunday, when he told an interviewer the F-35 program was "out of control."

Trump didn't mention Lockheed or any other company by name in his criticism. He hasn't said how he would push down costs.

George W. Bush: Post-Cold War: remove weapons & high-alert; build SDI

Bush accused Clinton and Gore of being "locked in a Cold War mentality." Bush said, "The premises of Cold War nuclear targeting should no longer dictate the size of our arsenal." He also said the US should "remove as many weapons as possible from high-alert, hair-trigger status."

Bush was hesitant to use the politically-charged word "unilateral" when calling for reductions, saying instead that the US should "lead by example," and that he would "work closely with the Russians to convince them to do the same."

George W. Bush: Russia: jointly reduce missiles; but no joint SDI

Notably, Bush shied away from another of his father's 1991 proposals: that Russia join the US and its allies in building missile defenses, a move intended to overcome Moscow's fierce objections to the program. Bush said yesterday that his willingness to share technology would "depend on how Russia behaves."

Bush's proposal is still a significant break with many in his own party's leadership, who argue that the US can have missile defenses and maintain large numbers of nuclear weapons. It was a clear attempt to rebut recent charges by Clinton & Gore that Bush is trapped in Cold War thinking.

James Webb: Quit Reagan administration protesting cuts to Navy budget