 Approx 1.4 million men and women serve on active duty  Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard  These troops support the nation’s military goals and protect and defend national interests  U.S has largest military budget in the world: $526 billion  After the fall of communism in 1991 Congress reduced defense spending BUT after Sept 11 spending increased

 In Jan 2013 Pres Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta unveiled the first defense budget in more than a decade to show an overall cut in military spending  Budget anticipates about $500 billion in cuts over the next 10 years  Also means a reduction of more than 100,000 combat troops, battleships, air squadrons worldwide and the closing of bases in the U.S

 In February Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel presented the defense budget at the Pentagon  Said the defense budget would be the first to look beyond 13 years of conflict, shifting away from long-term ground wars like Iraq and Afghanistan  Defense analysts said the budget would begin to move the Pentagon in the right direction on issues like military compensation reform and eliminating waste  Steps have been taken to deal with the controversial issue of pay and compensation  proposed budget would impose a one-year salary freeze for general and flag officers; basic pay for military personnel would rise by 1 percent.  Budget also calls for slowing the growth of tax-free housing allowances for military personnel.  Also proposes an increase in health insurance deductibles and some co-pays for some military retirees and for some family members of active servicemen.

 Supporters of the budget say they represent a change in global military strategies  Shrink the overall size of the military but still invest in less expensive but highly effective tools like cyber capabilities and drones  Also believe its time for Dept of Defense to become more accountable to the American public  If the military cannot keep us safe with $525 billion then the country needs to rethink  Opposition says budget cuts are a threat to national security and the budget should be increased so that aging equipment can be modernized

AGREE  Policymakers should not be lulled into a false sense of security- world is still dangerous  Rising threats such as China and N. Korea and continuing terrorist threats  Security of the nation is the most important responsibility of the government- to cut back is to put the nation in danger DISAGREE  Cuts in defense spending need to reflect the new global realities and the need for a leaner but still effective U.S military  Troop levels should be reduced in Europe and unnecessary bases closed  New military strategy focuses on smaller forces and short- term commitments: costs less

 2012 President Obama announced that the military would be refocused to be more technically proficient across Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East  New plan enables the U.S to fight one major conflict while still having the ability to deploy military to deter a second conflict- but not able to fight two major ground wars at once  Known as the two-war strategy  Example: Iraq and Afghanistan

AGREE  U.S needs to shift its attention to new threats in Asia  Change in strategy requires a smaller and more mobile military force than currently  Acknowledges that the nation cannot run up huge debts by engaging in two major wars at once DISAGREE  Iraq and Afghanistan are recent examples of the need for a two-war plan  Threats are coming in globally- both Middle East and Asia  A change in strategy would cause U.S. allies to lose confidence in U.S leadership

 The president of the U.S does not have the power to declare war- this responsibility resides with Congress  Congress declared war in the War of 1812, the Mexican- American War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II  In reaction to U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Congress passed the War Powers Act  Limited the president’s authority to commit American troops abroad without Congress’s approval.  The law was passed over the veto of President Richard Nixon, who argued the law was an abridgement of the president’s authority as Commander in Chief.

 Authorization of Military Force (AUMF)- resolution passed by Congress in 2001  Gives the president major new war-making powers  Under AUMF the president claims unilateral authority to use drones to kill anyone, including U.S citizens, if they are suspected of terrorism  Many believe that this is a dangerous extension of executive power and Congress should be limiting presidential war powers to bring back accountability and transparency  In May 2013, President Obama announced that he agrees that presidential power does need to be scaled back and would allow many powers created after 9/11 expire

 “Unless we discipline our thinking, our definitions, our actions, we may be drawn into more wars we don’t need to fight, or continue to grant presidents unbound powers more suited for traditional armed conflicts between nation states.”  President Obama

AGREE  AUMF was passed in the wake of 9/11 and has since been extended far beyond its intent  Result of AUMF is limitless executive power and endless war.  Congress must reassert its constitutional authority and became stricter in the decision to use military force DISAGREE  Nation will find itself in a negative place if the urgent decision to use military force involves all 535 members of Congress  Ability to take strong and decisive action will be tangled up in partisan politics  National security of the U.S. depends on a commander that is free from constraints