Part II || Cutting the Pentagon's Budget is a Gift to Our Enemies 2/5-Intelligence Squared U.S.

Political gridlock in Washington triggered across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, in March. As a result, the Pentagon was given six months to eliminate $41 billion from the current year's budget, and unlike past cuts, this time everything is on the table. In 2011, America spent $711 billion dollars on its defense—more than the next 13 highest spending countries combined. But the burdens it shoulders, both at home and abroad, are unprecedented. Could the sequester be a rare opportunity to overhaul the armed forces, or will its impact damage military readiness and endanger national security?

For: Thomas Donnelly

For: Andrew Krepinevich

Against: Benjamin Friedman

Against: Kore Schake

===================================

Main Debate

Official site: iq2us.org/vote

IQ2US Twitter

IQ2US Facebook

===================================