Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the cuts would harm the readiness of U.S. fighting forces.
But with that in mind, the well-being of our fighting forces must be our top priority.
CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: "The 'Buck' stops here" on defense cuts
American officials also point out that South Korea boasts one of the world's best fighting forces, with 690, 000 troops.
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Hun Sen's troops have been fighting forces loyal to Ranariddh since the ouster.
NATO, they must spend more money on defence and transform their bloated armies into smaller fighting forces, easily inter-operable with America's.
But even if America decides to withdraw the bulk of its fighting forces, a great deal still depends on the manner of their going.
Poland's fighting forces are down to about a third of the original size, but their mandate is due to expire at the beginning of next year.
Afghan troops are already responsible for security in Kabul, and are increasingly taking the lead in Kandahar, where they make up more than 60 percent of the fighting forces.
WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing on Afghanistan-Pakistan Annual Review
In the north, Kurdish leaders have refused to disband their peshmerga fighting forces, forcing Mr Allawi to backtrack on his demand that all militias be incorporated into the re-formed Iraqi security forces or return to civilian life.
So instead of funding those areas where Gates and Mullen say the greatest operational need exists, Congress will probably cut weapons outlays and fighting forces while preserving compensation levels and a basing system that the two Pentagon leaders say are bloated.
Abou Zeid - whose death is still to be confirmed by DNA evidence - is said to be second-in-command of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which is fighting foreign forces in Mali.
The Chadian army - fighting alongside French forces - has claimed it killed Abou Zeid and fellow militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar in recent fighting.
BBC: Islamist commander Abou Zeid's death in Mali 'probable'
The Chadian army fighting alongside French forces claimed earlier this month it had killed Abou Zeid and fellow militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar in fighting in February.
The result has been to leave the armed forces fighting today's wars with yesterday's weapons.
In 1521, at the age of 30, he had become an officer in the Spanish forces fighting against the French.
Karzai is not in Bonn, but near Kandahar, commanding forces fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda members around the city.
Neighbouring Uzbekistan is the other Central Asian state that has provided a base, at Khanabad, for western forces fighting in Afghanistan.
It's harder than fighting the strong forces because the coalition forces have rules of engagement where they try not to kill civilians.
Ethnic Albanian insurgents began fighting Macedonian government forces in February, then agreed to a cease-fire in August in exchange for more rights.
Last month, rebels took control of the strategic Taftanaz military air base in north-western Syria after weeks of fierce fighting with government forces.
It is the same region where the Chadian army - fighting alongside French forces - says it killed two top Islamist leaders in recent days.
The second conference in November in Istanbul, Turkey, was largely overshadowed by an increase in fighting between Turkish forces and Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
The bulk of these, to be sure, are fighting alongside our forces, but there's some nearly three dozen of them that are assessed to be in lead.
For its part, the Bush administration spent little time explaining to the US public who the forces fighting in Iraq were and why the US was fighting them.
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Bagram prison, officially known as the Parwan Detention Center, is located in one of the largest military bases for Nato-led forces fighting in Afghanistan and holds 3, 000 detainees, including terror suspects.
The Government must also start to deliver improved services to the Somali people, pay salaries to the security forces fighting on their behalf and continue efforts to build up security sector institutions.
But it would be even worse, said a Palestinian official, for the authority to try to stagger on, with many different forces fighting to fill the vast hole left by Mr Arafat.
Located in northwest Syria, Aleppo has been torn by months of fighting between government forces and rebel groups, who control much of the city, where electricity and food have been in short supply.
But it would be even worse, say Palestinians in Mr Arafat's Fatah movement, for the PA to try to stagger on, with various forces fighting to fill the vast hole left by Mr Arafat.
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