Sometimes assumptions, because they have been around for so long, are no longer questioned. Sometimes they just keep "being there", silently guiding policy ... as they have always done.
Good decision making though requires explicitly questioning all key assumptions.
In today's announcement to put forward Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary President Obama spouted one of those tried and true assumptions .. without blinking an eye.
But the question is - is it still a valid goal/assumption?
President Obama said ... " and keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known."
Transcript at - http://www.dailykos.com/...
Really? Why?
With record budget deficits, why ïs it necessary to "keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known"
When the US has no clear enemy at present, why is it necessary to "keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known"
When defense expenditures are now equal to 1/2 of the total planetary expenditures on defense, why is it necessary to "keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known"
When the money spent on defense is being borrowed from foreigners, some of whom are the US's biggest potential threats, why is it necessary to "keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known"
When the US is looking at cutting its social safety net, why is it necessary To "keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known""
I get part of it. Who doesn't want to have the strongest fighting force the world has ever known (other than most other countries ... but that is besides the point ... well actually it is not besides the point, but it is a topic big enough for another diary) ... but maybe now is the time to not buy the Porsche, and instead make do with a nice sensible sedan.