Are Cuts to the Defense Budget Necessary?
Politicians on both sides can agree that the United States debt, which has surpassed $15 trillion, is far too large. What they disagree on is how best to cut the federal budget and address the deficit crisis. One point of contention is the defense budget. Some argue that it has become too large and bloated in recent years, especially as the United States is no longer being challenged by any superpower as it was by Soviet Russia during the Cold War. Others contend the United States still faces a major threat with terrorism and the rise of radical Islam. They say that for the sake of national security, cuts should come from elsewhere in the national budget. There may not be a choice in the matter—if the deficit reduction “super committee” fails to come up with a plan that cuts $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years, $1.2 trillion will be cut across the board, split between defense and non-defense budgets. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned that such cuts would be “disastrous” and “devastating.” Here is the Debate Club’s take whether the defense budget should be cut.
The Arguments
Yes — Reducing the military budget means less war, not more
PATRICK TAKAHASHI, Director Emeritus at the University of Hawaii Comment (6)
Yes — Reductions should be a gradual process led by the military braintrust
TRAVIS SHARP, Bacevich Fellow at the Center for a New American Security Comment (2)
Yes — By limiting expenditures, U.S. can actually solidify its defense
RON PAUL, U.S. Representative and Republican Candidate for President Comment (6)
Yes — Military must play its part here to halt the deficit threat too
LAWRENCE J. KORB, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Comment
Yes — Cuts may be necessary, but don't shift the entire burden to the military
KORI SCHAKE, Bradley Professor of International Security Studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Comment (1)
Yes — Restore order at the department and bring defense budgets back into line
GORDON ADAMS, Professor at American University Comment
No — The solution to the debt crisis lies in entitlements and taxes, not the military budget
DOUG BERENSON, Director of the Defense & Aerospace Group at Avascent Group Comment (1)
No — Defense budget is not large enough to cover president's foreign policy agenda
MACKENZIE EAGLEN, Fellow at the Heritage Foundation Comment (3)
No — The consequences of cutting the military budget are still not understood
J. RANDY FORBES, U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee Comment (1)
