Obama criticizes wasteful defense spending

OBAMA FOR USA. President Barack Obama says the United States cannot build a military for this century as long as defense contracts are influenced by special interests and wasteful spending.

Obama told the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention Monday that he wants to change how the Pentagon does business so the dollars are spent protecting the nation and its troops. He says the instincts in Washington are to protect defense jobs.

The president says he's already fighting some spending, including billions of dollars allocated for a new fleet of presidential helicopters.

Obama joked that he doesn't need a new chopper in which he can cook meals while surviving a nuclear attack. He says if the United States is under attack, he's not worrying about preparing a snack.

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