As the congressional super committee works to produce a deficit reduction plan, Peter Singer urges the lawmakers to balance cuts in domestic discretionary and defense spending carefully. Singer says the debate over defense cuts too often focuses on specific weapons programs, not the support needed to maintain weapons, or changes to the Pentagon’s personnel and health care policies that might also produce significant and ongoing savings. He warns that a great nation must keep pace with technological advances.
U.S. Defense Policy
What is deterrence, and what is its role in U.S. national defense?
Commentary
Podcast@ Brookings Podcast: Make Defense Cuts Carefully
September 30, 2011