WASHINGTON- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, today participated in a classified roundtable discussion with members of the House Armed Services Committee. The session was an opportunity to discuss the Chairman’s Risk Assessment, an annual report the CJCS submits to Congress as required by law. Following the briefing, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said:
Readout: Thornberry Comments on CJCS Roundtable with Armed Services Committee
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, today participated in a classified roundtable discussion with members of the House Armed Services Committee. The session was an opportunity to discuss the Chairman's Risk Assessment, an annual report the CJCS submits to Congress as required by law. Following the briefing, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said:
"General Dempsey has previously described the President's budget request as the ‘lower ragged edge' of what it takes to defend the country. This morning we received a briefing on the growing threats we confront and the accumulating challenges facing our own military forces. It is clear that continued cuts to our military would exact a very real cost on our ability to address those threats and significantly increase the dangers facing the nation.
"Uncertainty in budgets combined with a high operational pace and eroding military technological advantages are the new constants facing our military leaders. As Congress debates critical national security issues, we must keep this enormous challenge, and unprecedented risk, in mind. Addressing these threats must be our highest priority."
