A struggling military

Bailouts, infrastructure and financial stimulus will require big money during a deepening recession. President-elect Barack Obama also needs to worry about defense.

The Pentagon spends 85% more than it did eight years ago, but US forces are stretched almost to the breaking point. The US spends almost as much on defense as the rest of the world combined, and more than any time since World War II. But it’s stretched too thin to cover both Iraq and Afghanistan. Potential new threats might come from Iran, North Korea, Russia or China; from unstable countries like Somalia or from Pakistan with nuclear arms; not to mention terrorists of increasing sophistication.

Will future threats be from conventional warfare or counterinsurgency? Will they require more troops or more high-tech equipment for smaller forces? In the midst of recession, with new threats on the horizon, will Barack Obama have to increase strength and readiness at the same time he decreases spending?

"To the Point" looks at some of the toughest questions the next president will have to answer.

Guests:
– Winslow Wheeler: Director of the Straus Military Reform Project, Center for Defense Information
– Kathleen Hicks: former career officer, Department of Defense
– Dan Goure: former Director, Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Competitiveness

Hosted by award-winning journalist Warren Olney, "To the Point" presents informative and thought-provoking discussion of major news stories — front-page issues that attract a savvy and serious news audience.

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