The United States’ defense is overstretched as it attempts to fight two wars, terrorism, and dangerous nuclear development. We are facing a national crisis, as we must figure out how to maintain a strong defense while trying to reduce defense spending.
The bottom line is that we know that cuts in defense are coming, but if those cuts are too substantial and without real thought to the full international picture, we run a grave risk to our well-being as a nation. We could compromise our position as a world leader and would potentially even undermine the capability of our armed forces.
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... while Americans want to decrease federal spending and particularly defense spending, they also want the U.S. to play a leadership role in the world.
Presently, neither the “elite” nor the general public has figured out how to make cuts without jeopardizing security and our place as a world leader.
ReplyDeleteVoters support sweeping cuts of federal spending and believe that defense can be cut, as there is no sense that the U.S. is at risk in a way that requires more defense spending. In polling I conducted earlier this month, almost half, 47 percent, say federal spending should be cut by 20 percent, and 36 percent say federal spending should be cut by at least 5 percent.
The area of federal spending voters say should be cut first is defense. Twenty-nine percent say they would reduce national security spending in order to cut government spending, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll. Further, my recent poll shows that voters favor decreasing defense spending rather than increasing it to fund the war in Afghanistan, 44 percent to 21 percent.
But while Americans want to decrease federal spending and particularly defense spending, they also want the U.S. to play a leadership role in the world. Fifty-eight percent say the United States has the responsibility to be a leader of the world, while 34 percent say the U.S. should not try to be a leader of the world, according to my poll data.
The Risky Rush to Cut Defense Spending
ReplyDeleteNo one has figured out how to make cuts without jeopardizing security.
by Douglas Schoen
Newsweek, January 08, 2011