NEW YORK TIMES: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagelplans to shrink the United States Army to its smallest force since before the World War II buildup and eliminate an entire class of Air Force attack jets in a new spending proposal that officials describe as the first Pentagon budget to aggressively push the military off the war footing adopted after the terror attacks of 2001.
The proposal, described by several Pentagon officials on the condition of anonymity in advance of its release on Monday, takes into account the fiscal reality of government austerity and the political reality of a president who pledged to end two costly and exhausting land wars. A result, the officials argue, will be a military capable of defeating any adversary, but too small for protracted foreign occupations.
The officials acknowledge that budget cuts will impose greater risk on the armed forces if they are again ordered to carry out two large-scale military actions at the same time: Success would take longer, they say, and there would be a larger number of casualties. Officials also say that a smaller military could invite adventurism by adversaries… (more)
EDITOR: Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama spoke for an hour before the day before Ukranian President Viktor F. Yanukovych was driven from office. The change in government in Ukrania must be a bitter pill for Putin.
We would like to think that both of the leaders understand that neither country can any longer effectively take unilateral actions but rather must work together, along with other nations, to develop consensus and engage in give and take.
Welcome to the 21st Century as economic and militlalry power becomes spread throughout the world. To prosper, our nation must invest heavily in education, infrastructure and technology, not war making. We also must reform our tax system, further reform health care and re-gain control over campaign contributions. We already are making progress towards reforming the misconceived and draconian drug war and our criminal justice system.
This century could be glorious one, a turning point in world history.
