The effect of removing troops from Afghanistan would be a reduction in our capability to project our power and influence in defense of our country and our best interests in the Middle East.
In other words, removing troops from Afghanistan would reduce our capability to fight wars that we have no business fighting in the first place. This is a terrible example to use.
For that matter, what exactly are "our best interests in the Middle East?"
... the proposed cuts to future soldier benefits will help discourage the best and brightest from giving a damn about joining.
Too late for that, dude. This is the new feminist/homosexual military. I would have hoped that the "best and brightest" vacated the armed forces a long time ago.
A strong air force and navy are needed to keep external dangers away from our borders. But getting rid of our large standing army will remove a temptation and opportunity for our megalomaniacal and corrupt chickenhawk political class to send American soldiers to their death in endless conflicts that don’t concern us.