On Tuesday, U.S. Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned General Dempsey’s prepared testimony that the President’s request is ‘at the lower ragged edge of manageable risk’ and leaves ‘no slack, no margin left for error or strategic surprise.’
McCain said he would go further than Dempsey and would question “whether the Defense Department’s current strategy, which was released in January 2012, has not been overtaken by world events, which would suggest the need for new strategic guidance and even more defense spending than the President’s request.”
The Committee met to receive testimony on the Department of Defense’s FY 2016 budget request, the associated future years defense program, and the posture of U.S. Armed Forces, according to McCain.
McCain said in his opening statment, “Over just the past six weeks this committee has undertaken a serious and rigorous review of the present global challenges we face, as well as a review of U.S. national security strategy. We have received testimony from some of America’s most experienced statesmen and leading strategic thinkers. A unified and alarming assessment has emerged from these national leaders. As former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger testified on January 29: ‘The United States has not faced a more diverse and complex array of crises since the end of the Second World War.’
“Given the accumulating dangers we face, it is notable that the President supported the Department of Defense in requesting a level of defense spending that is roughly $38 billion above the caps imposed by the Budget Control Act (BCA) and sequestration, which mandate nearly $1 trillion in defense cuts over ten years. In light of recent events, I think this approach was more than justified. With each passing year since the BCA was enacted in 2011, and with the United States slashing its defense spending as a result, the world has become more dangerous, and threats to our nation have grown. I don’t think that is purely a coincidence,” stated McCain
“The President’s budget request responds to many critical priorities, particularly addressing cyber and space vulnerabilities, military readiness shortfalls, and essential long-term modernization initiatives. At the same time, the President’s request reflects budget-driven policy decisions that would reduce some critical military capabilities – either through the early retirement or cancellation of existing systems, deferred development or procurement of new systems, or withheld funding for proven requirements,” said McCain. “This Committee will closely scrutinize these decisions and seek to meet urgent and legitimate military needs where possible.”
“As for meeting our growing national security requirements, General Dempsey’s prepared testimony this afternoon states that the President’s request is ‘at the lower ragged edge of manageable risk’ and leaves ‘no slack, no margin left for error or strategic surprise.’ I would go further: I question whether the Defense Department’s current strategy, which was released in January 2012, has not been overtaken by world events, which would suggest the need for new strategic guidance and even more defense spending than the President’s request.
McCain said the president needs to consider the events of the past year alone: Russia has challenged core principles of the postwar order in Europe by invading and annexing the territory of another sovereign nation. A terrorist army that has proclaimed its desire to attack America and its allies now controls a vast swath of territory in the heart of the Middle East. Iran continues its pursuit of nuclear weapons while expanding its malign influence across the region. North Korea mounted the most brazen cyberattack ever on our territory. And China has stepped up its coercive behavior in Asia, backed by its rapid military modernization.
“The findings of last year’s National Defense Panel cast serious doubt on whether our military can fulfill even the current strategy at acceptable risk. This bipartisan group of military commanders and policymakers stated that the defense spending cuts imposed by the BCA and sequestration ‘constitute a serious strategic misstep.’ McCain continued, “More ominously, the Panel concluded that, ‘in the extreme, the United States could find itself in a position where it must either abandon an important national interest or enter a conflict for which it is not fully prepared.’”