Should U.S. cut military spending while China/Russia are increasing?
For all the conservative fiscal hawks who are fully prepared to let Sequestration run its course (including military cuts), it's fascinating to watch the pushback from what I would call internationalist conservatives, often at conservative Washington media and think-tanks.
Indeed, from my vantage point, the alarm is NOT coming from conservative Main Street U.S.A., but from around the Beltway.
The critique typically takes this form: An unreformed Vladimir Putin in Russia has called for military expansion, and the Chinese are greatly bolstering their defense budget.
(Although, to put things in proper context, China's defense spending would still represent but a fraction of America's, in both absolute and per capita terms. That said, the per capita calculation may be misleading, given China's vastly bigger population. And despite endemic corruption in the Chinese system, doubtless China gets more bang for the buck - or Yuan - than we do!)
Nonetheless, this article from The WASHINGTON TIMES is typical...
By the way, I've been unable to find a comprehensive answer to this question: What happens to military sequestration if the United States goes to war against Iran?
Addressing the American-Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC) in Washington, Vice President Biden said while the United States is continuing to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran, President Obama's policy "is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Period. Period. End of discussion. Prevent. Not contain -- prevent."
Posted at 7:43am on March 5, 2013 by Allan Loudell
