It will require further contraction of military bases, ports, airfields and depots and the defense industrial base and its suppliers.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A fatal 'box canyon' for the G.O.P.?

The U.S. economy shrank by an annualized rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, its first contraction since the middle of 2009, hurt by big cuts in defense spending, falling exports and sluggish growth in company inventories.

NPR: Markets Edgy As US Payrolls Loom

The biggest cause of the 0.1% contraction in the U.S. economy was a sharp decline in government spending, chiefly in the defense space.

FORBES: With Apple Absent, Market Starts 2013 With A Big January