only the first small step to a new, much leaner
plains, "To put it simply, the U.S. military that
military. Even a hawk like John Lehman argues
won the Cold War and the Gulf war no longer
that serious military reform instead of more
exists." Jones, p. A20. But the Cold War is over.
money is the appropriate answer. John Lehman,
The argument that American defense expen-
"Our Military Condition," American Spectator,
ditures as a percentage of GDP are the lowest
October 1998, pp. 2432.
since the 1930s--made by GOP presidential con-
tenders Steve Forbes and Dan Quayle--is irrele-
174. Even moderate hawks oppose the large mili-
vant. The U.S. economy is bigger and American
tary spending increases proposed by Democrats
defense outlays are far higher than in the 1930s.
and Republicans alike. See, for example, Michael
This nation's military is larger and more power-
O'Hanlon, "How Much Military?" New York Times,
ful than any other on earth. Moreover, the most
January 6, 1999, p A27.
important determinant of defense outlays, as
Ronald Reagan often pointed out, should be the
175. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Tex.) suggests using
nature of the threat. Dan Quayle complains,
the budget surplus to finance military pay
"After the Cold War, it made sense to reevaluate
increases instead of tax cuts. Crawley, p. A1.
national security priorities. But the only dis-
Anyone who picks up a copy of the federal budget,
cernible theme in the past six years has been
however, sees endless targets for serious budget
cuts, cuts, and more cuts." Quayle, p. 4. What,
cutters.
however, should the theme be after the collapse
of the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact, and the
176. Elizabeth Becker, "`Two for America' Beat the
international communist movement, which
Drums for the Military," New York Times, March
prompted Ronald Reagan to undertake his mil-
21, 1999, p. 21.
itary buildup? Repeal of that buildup should be
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