Top Defense Officials Defend Budget Cuts

It’s a tough sell in the Senate for U.S. military leaders when it comes to the proposed Pentagon budget for next year. However, the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, defending the budget cuts.

FOX  News Radio’s Rich Johnson reports from Capitol Hill:

Joint Chiefs chairman General Martin Dempsey was very much to the point when questioned by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin.

(Levin) “Do you and each of the Joints Chiefs of Staff fully support the President’s fiscal year 2013 budget request?” 

(Dempsey) “Yes, Senator, we do.”

But Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman isn’t convinced.

(Lieberman) “I consider this budget to represent unacceptable risk.”

The $614 billion budget envisions a smaller fighting force, more emphasis on Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, a smaller presence in Europe, and would spend 32 billion fewer dollars than this year.

On Capitol Hill, Rich Johnson, FOX News Radio.