Defense Secretary Robert Gates has shaken up long-standing budget ritual that permits the service chiefs to present Congress with wish lists not vetted by the Pentagon or the White House. On April 21, Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, asked the service chiefs and two combatant commanders to prepare lists of high-priority items not funded in the Defense Department's fiscal year 2010 budget request ( DefenseAlert, April 22). The top brass have responded to...