US defence secy proposes defence cuts

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has recommended axeing one of the ten major US military commands in a major reallocation of defence spending.
Gates said the Joint Forces Command would close, the use of outside contractors would be cut and the number of generals and admirals reduced.
He has said that he wants to find savings of about $100bn (£63bn) in the military budget in the next five years.
Gates said he wanted to free up spending for frontline requirements.
In a Pentagon news conference, he said the military had grown unwieldy and costly following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
"I'm not satisfied with the progress made to reduce our over-reliance on contractors," Gates said.
The Joint Forces Command, based in Virginia, employs 5,000 people and trains troops from the different services to work together.