Deeper defense cuts could be "tragic": Robert Gates

by **Strawberry** Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:29 am

(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Congress on Wednesday against making deeper spending cuts than those already proposed, telling lawmakers "we still live in a very dangerous and often unstable world."

Defense is one of largest chunks of the budget but Republicans, who made big gains in November's congressional elections with a message of austerity, so far have shown little appetite for paring back military spending at a time of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon last month unveiled plans to cut $78 billion in defense spending over five years. Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration who plans to step down as defense secretary later this year, pushed back against some lawmakers wanting even bigger reductions.

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