Panetta: Smaller military means more risk

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon chief says the U.S. will have to make some tradeoffs and take some extra risks under the new military strategy laid out to absorb federal budget cuts.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta unveiled the strategy Thursday in a news conference with President Barack Obama and the top ranking U.S. military chief, Gen. Martin Dempsey.

Panetta said future budgets will mean smaller U.S. armed forces and some greater risk. But he said the country does not have to choose between national security and fiscal responsibility.

Panetta said at this point in history, in a changing world, the Pentagon would have been forced to make a strategy shift anyway. He says the money crisis merely forced the government to face the shift that is taking place now.

The new national defense strategy addresses two issues at once. It streamlines the military in an era of tighter budgets and reassesses defense priorities in light of China's rise and other global changes.

Overall, the new defense strategy hints at a reduced U.S. military presence in Europe and says Asia will be a bigger priority. It also emphasizes improving U.S. capabilities in the areas of cyberwarfare and missile defense.

China is a particular worry because of its economic dynamism and rapid defense buildup. A more immediate concern is Iran, not only for its threats to disrupt the flow of international oil but also for its nuclear ambitions.

[smittyc]

Afghanistan is a nation of less then 30 million. American military forces along with German, Dutch, English, Canadian and Australian military represent populations of half a billion people,(500 million). We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars in Afghanistan and military leadership says more time, more money and more soldiers lives must be sacrificed. Bring this war to an end, use that money to build our military and yes most important of all stop the loss of American soldiers.

[ch47fe]

I fear that all Obama has done is to leave the welcome mat out for countries like Russia, China and Iran. The Russians are already gearing the "Cold War" posture again and lets not forget about the brink of civil war going on in Iraq. Thats right Iraq, the country we just pulled out of is at it again with Sectarian attacks against Shiites and Sunnis.....your boy Obama kept his campaign promise and pulled the troops out and I hope im wrong but feel we will be right back over there to police up the trash if they go full scale Civil War. Gutting the military is not the answer. Reforms within the military spending department yes. Downsizing in an unstable World....NO WAY!!.....the writing is on the wall on this one and it will go down in history as a big mistake.

[ch47fe]

I fear that all Obama has done is to leave the welcome mat out for countries like Russia, China and Iran. The Russians are already gearing the "Cold War" posture again and lets not forget about the brink of civil war going on in Iraq. Thats right Iraq, the country we just pulled out of is at it again with Sectarian attacks against Shiites and Sunnis.....your boy Obama kept his campaign promise and pulled the troops out and I hope im wrong but feel we will be right back over there to police up the trash if they go full scale Civil War. Gutting the military is not the answer. Reforms within the military spending department yes. Downsizing in an unstable World....NO WAY!!.....the writing is on the wall on this one and it will go down in history as a big mistake.

[smittyc]

The military has been saying for years, years more time more time. When is enough enough. We are supposed to have the elitest fighting force in the world and we are still in Afghanistan. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Where are the results? What excuses can the military leadership possibly offer that make any sense whatsoever as to why we are still in Afghanistan.

[smittyc]

Can't be many RP, Shariah law being what it is, OFF WITH THE HEAD. HA HA HA, all have to admit that is a big deterrent. Ah Ha Ha Ha. Even China is not that violent, they just castrate them, called eunuchs.

[tsigili]

Lots more risk......at a time when Iran is being very dangerous.

Obama continues to show his incompetence.

[jeffinpa1234]

Panets's boss(Obummer) says we are all safer with the smaller military.

Paneta says we have increased risk.

I say watch out for that airplane comming in at window level!

[Lerianis4]

No, Mr. Panetta, it does NOT mean more risk, considering that NO foreign nation is going to mess with the United States as long as we have WMD's.

A BIGGER and more reasonable risk is that the United States with a big military will start warmongering.... oh wait.... IRAQ.... AFGHANISTAN.... enough said!

It's time to stop with this Chicken Little, sky is falling nonsense.

[JoseGonzalezDoritos]

Our government should maintain the biggest, baddest, military machine they possibly can. We need to do our best to be a country that nobody in their right mind would ever consider challenging. Iran is just waiting for the chance to start the next major world conflict and we're talking about downsizing? Bad idea. Better to stay ahead to the best of our ability.

[IndependentinNH]

Osama Bin Laden didn't give a hoot about the might of the USA. Those, especially the suicidal type, who use the sneak attack approach, are not about to be stopped by big spending. Brains, not bronze, is the future.

[ralphing]

We need to stop this global nonsense and keep immigrants out of our country. Why do we need to have a flood of people from middle east countries and elsewhere just let loose in our country? They are free to hijack planes and stick bombs in buildings. If they weren't here they couldn't do that. Rather then picking out terrorist looking people from coming into the U.S., keep all non-citizens out.

There hasn't been any countries trying to send armies or missiles to our shores, so why do we need to send troops to Iraq?

[IndependentinNH]

Do I remember correctly? Wasn't Robert Gates for reducing military spending. Panetta needs a reality check.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
the United States, is the best armed country in the world, continue to promote this sector at the expense of other sectors that affect the well being of citizens, is unfair
"au revoir"