A 21st Century Military

I've been trying to find something positive in the sequester, and it's been a real struggle to do so, but perhaps there is a bit of good news in what mandatory cuts will do for the military. After funding entitlement programs, defense spending accounts for the largest portion of the federal budget. I support cuts to the military so long as they are done smartly. Of course, the sequester doesn't set us up for smart cuts, just cuts, but there is hope that these cuts could be targeted and make our military leaner, more efficient, and more prepared for the realities of the 21st century.

Among the potential cuts are things I have mentioned in the past like a significant reduction of nuclear stockpiles as well as things I have not considered like restructuring military insurance. Cuts to military programs are good as long as we cut weapons programs that do not impact our national security. So where should we be focusing?

I believe that the future of our national security lies in cyber-safety and in space. I have previously lamented cuts to NASA for both military and scientific purposes, but I am not the only person who believes the future of our security is increasingly tied up in technology. China believes that too, and is taking steps to test their cyber weaponry by hacking into American businesses and governmental organizations. This behavior is wholly unacceptable, and I was encouraged to see that the Obama administration finally warned the Chinese government that these hacking attacks must stop. But this is what warfare may look like in the 21st century, and we must be fully prepared.

Cuts to military spending have the potential to be detrimental and harmful to our national security, but they also have the potential to help us re-imagine what national security will need to look like in the future. If we are smart about reforming our military, we will be sleeker and more nimble, more technologically advanced, and capable of addressing the issues of Chinese cyber intrusion, Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs (Stuxnet, anyone?), and the threat of terrorism.

At the end of the day I want the American Military to be capable of handling any threat that comes our way, but we can save money and prepare our military for the reality of the 21st century. Perhaps the sequester gives us a reason to start making that effort.