Chook,

I would definately target Defense, but I haven't come to a final decision on which programs in Defense I would cut. The United States has already wasted a huge amount of money on Iraq.

I would definately target Bush's new "small nuclear warhead" program, which was designed as a pre-emptive strike capability. That program only wins the U.S. enemies and makes a significant number of U.S. allies unsure of our intentions on the world, not to mention, lowering the nuclear threashold.

I am not sure of the state of development of ballistic missile defense for use in space, but if it exists I would give it a quick "chop chop". The ground-based ballistic missile defense and airborne ballistic missile defense is quite enough and I don't see why the U.S. has to go out of its way to thrust weapons into space when no one else has even indicated they will do such. That is not to say that there aren't many things the U.S. should do to secure the safety of its military satellites.

"God" I would like to see the U.S. get out of Iraq and turn responsibility over to the U.N., but I have a bad feeling it is too late for that now. We have made quite a mess of the country already and we owe the Iraqi people quite a bit of reconstruction money. I would try to cut costs where I could in Iraq and rely more on the International Community to organize elections and keep the peace in Iraq, as well as head off reconstruction efforts.

I think that would definately pay for the $5 billion and then some.

Within a few years I would try to get the U.S. defense budget back down to $200 billion, or perhaps $250 billion and use those funds to shrink the deficit.

As far as Bush's support for private industry is concerned, I don't have a problem with it until people get hurt. Obviously Bush has gone too far with the environment. That was no surprise. But I strongly suggest that Universe Today readers check out Rick Tumlinson's
Space Radio address and you will begin to understand where regulations are choking private industry in its efforts to get into space.

Did you check out Rick Tumlinson's speach on Spaceradio? You need Windows media player.
http://www.thespaceshow.com/

It would be nice if Fraser could send our questions to Rick Tumlinson like he did with Robert Zubrin.