it's optics, right. the pentagon yells "cut our budget!", and the house rejects their request. that way, they have a mandate from the people. it's absurd, but most of the political theatre that we're asked to take seriously is no less absurd. this is the concept of "democracy" that rings hollow through the elites.

but, again, it brings up the important question: is the government in charge of the pentagon, or is the pentagon in charge of the government?