Strategic differences: Trump, Clinton hold drastically different views of military strength

The candidates for president hold drastically different views on the military.

Republican Donald Trump says U.S. forces have been weakened by budget cuts. He says the military needs more troops, planes, ships and nuclear weapons to ensure American predominance in the world.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has a much different view of the defense and military challenges that will face the next president. She says the U.S. military is already head and shoulders above any competitor and does not require a major overhaul.

Trump says he would work to repeal "sequestration," or across-the-board budget cuts in military spending. That would be

necessary for the increased spending he is proposing.

Clinton has emphasized eliminating sequestration for both defense and non-defense spending. Like President Obama, she has argued that American military strength requires not just a big budget but also strengthening alliances. She has promised to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and says she would make curbing runaway military health care costs a priority.

Whether you agree with either candidate should go a long way in determining how you cast your vote.

Published in Editorials on October 28, 2016 9:52 AM