GPS is a critical tool for our military. When you are deployed to a strange region, you rely on that GPS signal to get back to base and to get to the fight quickly. GPS as a military tool is critical.

Also, I would not fault "private sector incompetence". The contractors charged with maintaining the GPS system can only do what the government funding and regulations will allow them to do. Unfortunately, I have first hand experience with dealing with the government and how they fund things. It's not as simple as the government writing a check and saying, "Keep this working." They put an entire bill together (or a portion of a bill) that specifies how and what you are to do to maintain it. It is actually illegal to do anything else unless first approved by the government contracting agency.

Since the GPS system is a government asset, the blame for it's current state is squarely on the shoulders of the government. Congress, in particular, should be held accountable since they are the ones that control the money. If they have defunded or underfunded support and maintenance of the GPS system heads should role.

Not so you and I can get to the closest Starbucks, but so that our men and women in uniform can get home safely.

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