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Defense spending differences between Romney, Obama

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    What does our military really need?

  • Duration 5:57
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My last night's debate the President Obama and governor Romney appeared to be on the same page when it comes to using military force only as a last resort.

When it comes to Iran that's not the only thing.

That apparently when they had a similar agenda.

When it came to conversation about that includes what is the plan with the way thorn in Syria act -- they share the same and date in Afghanistan.

But where they -- really was when he -- in military spending what is our military.

Need to look like major general Bob scales is a Fox News military analyst and the perfect person to talk to about all of this.

I general scales nice heavy with -- I -- we have a little treat for our viewers before it gets started we thought we need to show.

I general scales inaction is something we haven't seen some of these photos of you.

In your your multiple deployments just -- our viewers an idea and I do your military career general scales.

Well I started off to Germany is a cycle -- -- and I went to Vietnam with a 101 airborne division.

During the now famous battle of hamburger hill and then I served in Germany again.

Of Korea three times all over the world my wife and I moved some 26 times in 35 years and I ended my career is.

President of the army war college -- I point this out and we're showing these photos on purpose to show that year career.

Has probably seen quite a lot of changed in the way that we engage with our military and what our military needs one of the moments last night that really getting a lot of play.

It's how the president spoke to governor Romney about.

Where we were spending our money in the military listen listen to -- I think governor Romney maybe hasn't spent enough time looking at how our military works you you -- the navy for example.

And we have fewer ships than we did in 1960.

Well governor we also have fewer horses and bay and that's.

So there was is pointing out he went on to say no we had these things called aircraft carriers are planes landing went on to give a description about the military and -- have a question for -- general scales.

What -- the military really need today.

That's a great question Jenna and the president's right to some degree that capabilities are technologies are important but you know -- once said that.

Quantity has a quality all of that all all by itself -- masses important.

Numbers count numbers of ships count numbers of planes a number of men numbers of tanks and so forth.

And there's.

There's a safety net.

That if you go below in terms of total numbers then our capabilities throughout the world our -- are going to be put at risk I -- If the navy goes to say 210 ships just hypothetically if -- equation sequestration.

-- and that means so using the one the three rule will only be seventy ships seventy combat ships in the navy.

To police the entire world all the world's oceans frankly that's a number.

That's much too small and I'm a soldier not a sailor yeah.

So way you would probably want things -- for a little bit more -- geared towards land warfare but we can't have reckless spending as well when it comes to defense.

So weird how do we draw the line.

Well -- that's -- excellent question in the bottom line is we have to have.

Bottom line -- -- as to what the numbers are going to be what the technologies are going to be -- what the futures like the greatest.

Sense of -- I get from my friends in the military is where the military is going will secret sequestration.

Break the military.

Look John I've been in two broken military's in my life after Vietnam in 1973.

During a hollow army period in the late seventies.

And I watched the army and Marine Corps almost break after 9/11 when too few soldiers or Marines were applied to too -- missions.

We have to be very very careful as we move into the future that when we reduce the defense budget we don't.

Break the back of our services and -- our young men and women to go to war on prepared without sufficient numbers to win in the future.

And it certainly adds something neither party wants is about general scales well one of the things that we we mentioned.

We would hope that neither party would -- what what if things that -- that we did see discuss is Afghanistan and a quote unquote exit strategy.

There but -- little sound from the debate -- and get your reaction.

We're gonna be finished by 2014.

And when I'm president will make sure we bring our troops out by the end of 2014.

The commanders in the generals there are on track to do so and we're now in a position where we can transition out.

Because there's no reason why Americans.

Should die when Afghans are perfectly capable of defending their own country.

Generals doesn't always -- -- remind ourselves that we are at war.

Right now today Aaron Miller was on our show earlier he said this where where the standard of victory was not.

We can win.

But when can we leave when we start looking -- about that they we've actually lost something.

As a country -- your thoughts on both men really reiterating this when he fourteen day.

Well I think they're both right I think the US military will be substantially out of Afghanistan -- -- -- fourteen.

That doesn't mean we can't have residual forces to stay behind to continue to train the Afghan forces to offer advice.

Perhaps to assist them as some of the more technical aspects of future warfare.

But I think the American people that reached the point where.

You know at this at this stage thirteen years is enough it's America's longest war.

The -- ground forces are very tired right now and it's time to come home and let the Afghans.

Take up the mantle of defending their own country -- Give a Ph.D.

-- -- Because I would add that as well and what it what is that degree in again it's a military history OK just checking -- like showing these photos and an introducing more.

And -- our viewers and add Jesse analysts raw.

General scales so it's great to have you on the program and just give us -- -- the overarching view.

The military appreciate your thoughts as always -- thank you.

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