U.S. officials recently announced a revised military strategy, involving a leaner, smaller fighting force with an increased presence in the Pacific Ocean region.
The troop buildup in the Pacific is meant to keep tabs on a rising China while shifting the focus of U.S. military intervention away from the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq conflict that officially ended last month. The strategy shift also marks a departure from military budgets that exploded in the wake of 9/11. Congress enacted defense cuts last summer amounting to more than $489 billion over the next 10 years.
But at the same time, President Obama said that overall defense spending will still increase. He emphasized that the rate of growth will slow, but over the next ten years, military spending will rise despite the current drawdown.
"Our military will be leaner, but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats," the president said.
Quotes
"There's no question that we have to make some tradeoffs and that we will be taking, as a result of that, some level of additional, but acceptable risk. These are not easy choices." - Defense Secretary Leon Pannetta
Warm Up Questions
1. What does the U.S. military do?
2. Who pays for the U.S. military?
3. Why has U.S. military spending drastically increased in the past ten years?
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think it’s a good idea to cut back and refocus the military? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think the U.S. wants to increase its military presence in the Pacific?
3. Why do you think the government is making cuts to the military at this time? What is happening with the federal government’s budget in general?
Additional Resources
