ROBERT HALE: “But I would argue strongly we need the pressure that is generated by the 2014 deadline.”

If we find ourselves taking $52 billion out of that request, as would be required if there is no changes in the Budget Control Act, then the suddenness of that decline will cause serious problems.

Overall, I think sequestration is living up to its unfortunate reputation for imposing devastating effects on our military.

The most important reason that we need to do this, to achieve auditable financial statements, is public confidence.

We have got at least 25 percent of unneeded infrastructure in the Department of Defense. If we can't get Congress to allow us to close it, we are simply going to waste taxpayers' dollars.