ABSTRACT
While national security has not been the only or even the most promi-nent aspect of ongoing difficulties facing the United States introduced in Chapter 1, there are strong national security implications implicit (and in some cases explicit) in the non-security-based decisions that come out of the politico-economic crisis. The “sequester” that took effect on March 1, 2013, is the best example. No one proposing various austerity solutions wants to harm the country’s security in the process, but people whose primary concern is with national security worry that dangerous harm could result if the country’s security needs are not adequately considered.
