Defense Cuts Will Hurt Attempts to Rebuild Military

Officials, experts warn against massive cuts to the military in a dangerous world
U.S Marines in Afghanistan / AP

Deep cuts to the defense budget continue to pose ongoing problems for the Pentagon as it seeks to rebuild and recuperate a force that is battle weary, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told military leaders on Wednesday.

Questionable Wisdom

Congressional leaders and defense experts blast Obama’s military budget, say it will hurt preparedness
Hagel and Gen. Dempsey / AP

President Barack Obama’s budget proposal for the Department of Defense is being met with fierce criticisms among congressional leaders and outside experts who say the budget is unrealistic and hurts the military’s ability to perform.

Sequester Scare Tactics

Bin Laden's son-in-law’s defense team cites sequester in delay request
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith / AP

Attorneys for Osama bin Laden’s terrorist son-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghaith have asked a federal judge to postpone his controversial trial, blaming the delay on sequestration.

Demoralizing

Hagel tells military to prepare for cuts, ‘appreciate’ its ‘limits’
AP

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel tried to mollify worried military leaders Wednesday as he spoke publicly for the first time about the Defense Department’s pressing budgetary woes.