So too has the growth of pre-committed spending programs such as Medicare and Social Security that consume more of the federal budget and leave less discretionary spending for politicians to play around with in any given year . Some fear the fight against the Joint Chiefs of Staff could expand via `` mission creep '' Zelizer : this Wednesday 's presidents constrained by factors that make another Iraq unlikely . Julian Zelizer : Presidents no longer have the draft and immense budget resources for war . He says public , chastened by recent wars , is in no mood for major military operations .
Some fear the fight against the Joint Chiefs of Staff could expand via `` mission creep '' Zelizer : this Wednesday 's presidents constrained by factors that make another Iraq unlikely . Julian Zelizer : Presidents no longer have the draft and immense budget resources for war . He says public , chastened by recent wars , is in no mood for major military operations .