Gates, Mullen Dig In On Budget Decisions

By Michael Bruno

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stood their ground June 16 in testimony to Senate defense appropriators who peppered them on the Joint Strike Fighter’s alternate engine, C-17 airlifters and other spending priorities.

Gates sparred with Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) over ...

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