We are seeing the classic Guns versus Butter play out as it has in other developed Western democracies where hard choices have to be made between the welfare state and defense. Butter always wins out because it has more constituencies.
Right now we are going thru a rationalization stage justifying why it is necessary to cut defense spending. We have changed the parameters to justify lower spending. It used to be the two and one-half wars strategy to now one war. We are trying to develop a mission plan that fits into the budget we want rather than using a threat assessment of the dangers posed to us by our present and future adversaries.
Two thirds of our budget is on automatic pilot. The entitlement programs and other mandatories will consume the entire federal budget if reforms aren't made. The costs will still go up with an aging society where 10,000 baby boomers a day retire every day for the next 20 years.
No doubt defense spending should be on the table for any reductions, but I suspect that the pressure to cut defense will be greater than entitlements. The politicians will see to that.
"ripe for reform." The Dod has been cut three times in recent years. All these cuts were supposed to be over 10 years, but have now overlapped one another:
1. $330 Billion in 2009 to help funnel money for Obama's "Stimulus"
2. $487 Billion in 2012
3. $600 Billion in 2013 with Sequestration
Meanwhile, Food Stamps, SS Disability, TANF, ObamaPhones, and over 80 give away welfare programs are have grown by massive proportions. Moreover, the Big 3 (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) were exempt from Sequestration (except for a very small cut to Medicare reimbursements to doctors that was restored last year). Meanwhile, the Sequestration cuts and other 10 year programmed cuts to the military continue for the next 5 to 10 years.
There are certain core functions that our Federal government is supposed to do, national defense is one of the those. It is Constitutional.
Handing out EBT cards and Social Security "Crazy Checks" is not.
There is waste and duplication in any institution, and the Dept of Defense is no exception. However, after years and years of deep and real cuts, the DoD is now beyond these "trims" and is cutting muscle and bone. Last year, Sequestration grounded 11 Air Force combat squadrons. Only 2 Army Brigades were decleard combat ready. Thousands of DoD nurses, doctors, and medical professionals quit in disgust after being furloughed and losing 20% of their pay. Maintenance on Navy ships and equipment has been slashed.
For years now, responsible and sober analysts have been waving the red flag regarding these deep military cuts. But because of the political fear of cutting entitlements, they have been ignored as Kabar pointed out.
CARAFANO: Putting national security at risk - Deep cuts encourage our foes to test our defenses
Even if we zeroed out Defense spending, we are still doomed because of Medicare, Medicaid, ObamaCare, and Social Security spending.
If and when real war comes, it will be "come as you are." The American people may have a very real, and frightening, wake up call.
As to the validity of a dollar-for-dollar spending comparison vis a vis China and Russia, see post #1.