Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s budget proposal calling for scaling back the Army to pre-World War II personnel levels, closing military bases and making other cuts in spending for the military is a radical departure for the Pentagon after years of burgeoning budgets in the aftermath of the events of 9/11.

But Hagel’s $496 billion budget makes sense. The days of unchecked and unchallenged military spending have to end if this nation is serious about dealing with the deficit. And, with the dual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq finally coming to a close after more than a decade of draining American resources, now is the time for a new approach to defense spending.

Hagel is the first to acknowledge that the world remains a volatile place. Unforeseen events could rachet up military spending overnight, as they did in 2001, but barring such an occurrence, America must develop a new strategy focusing on a leaner military….

Hagel’s Pentagon budget calls for adequate spending for national security and the capability to wage one overseas war. While this might not be a “safe” assumption given what occurred in the aftermath of 9/11, it remains a logical blueprint for defense….

The United States isn’t about to disarm itself. Our military cupboard will remain far from bare….Cutting back on defense spending in an effort to get our budget priorities back in line isn’t about weakening us. It’s a realization that we are entering a postwar era and adjusting our military needs accordingly.

 

Kent-Ravenna Record Courier