The sequester has forced virtually every government agency to find ways to trim spending, and the Department of Defense is no exception. The Pentagon was given six months to find $41 billion in cuts from a $553 billion dollar budget. At a time when the U.S. is drawing down forces in Afghanistan and reorganizing defense priorities, could this be a rare opportunity to reform the military? Or, will cuts damage defense readiness and put national security at risk?
Find out more from the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. Debate, “Cutting the Pentagon’s Budget is a Gift to Our Enemies.”
Retired Army officer Andrew Krepinevich argues that any reductions to American defense spending would increase the risk of global threats, especially through cyber-warfare.
Reducing Defense Spending Would Increase Global Threats from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates on FORA.tv
Hoover Institution research fellow Kori Schake warns the gift to our enemies isn’t a smaller military; it’s out-of-control government spending.
It’s About Reducing the Debt, Not the Defense Spending from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates on FORA.tv
Tom Donnelly, author and security policy analyst, explains that as a government function, the Department of Defense is more efficient and offers a better value proposition than any other agency.
Pentagon Offers the Best Bang for the Taxpayer’s Buck from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates on FORA.tv
Finally, Benjamin Friedman of the Cato Institute argues foreign belligerents such as Iran and North Korea (and even our old adversary Russia) are no match for the current readiness and power of the U.S. Armed Forces.
America’s Conventional Military Strength Second to None from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates on FORA.tv