John McCain: Cut the Defense Budget

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), speaking to a foreign-policy forum Monday, called for sharp cuts in defense spending by clamping down on lawmakers’ pet projects and on weapons programs that routinely run over budget. McCain said Defense Secretary Robert Gates should be able to find $100 billion in savings. “I’m not sure that we could say that everything in defense is sacrosanct while the rest of these cuts in education and social programs, et cetera, are taking place,” McCain said. Rep. “Buck” McKeon, likely the next chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “A defense budget in decline portends an America in decline,” and said he would oppose cuts to the Pentagon’s budget.