article_snippet: Regrettably, military strength is seen in many quarters as the cause of military adventurism.
article_snippet: A strong, robust defense is seen not to deter aggression, but to provoke A strong, robust defense.
article_snippet: Even though us've been able to keep the homeland safe for more than a decade, the threats to Americans at home and abroad are growing.  
article_snippet: From the rise of the Islamic State and the spread of Islamic terrorism, to Russia's aggression in Europe, to Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, the threats to American security are growing.
article_snippet: our force reductions have been felt throughout the world -- by our friends and our enemies.
article_snippet: They have presented not just a crisis of readiness for America, but also a perilous strategic weakness.
article_snippet: Our adversaries have been emboldened by what Our adversaries perceive as Our diminished military presence.
article_snippet: History has shown that every time Our have unreasonably cut resources from Our military in anticipation of a peace dividend, it has only cost us more to make up for the deficit us create in military readiness and capability, and the expected era of perpetual peace fails to materialize.
article_snippet: Continuing on the current path will only invite war and conflict through weakness.
article_snippet: In the end, it is they who will suffer the most if sequestration is not reversed and our readiness and equipment continues to degrade.