Biggest US army downsize since pre-WWII buildup

The new budget that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is preparing to submit Monday will shrink the US army to its smallest force since before the World War II buildup, making it too small for a large land war and dropping the Air Force A-10 attack fleet.. Ahead of a stream of criticism, officials explained on condition of anonymity that the US military will henceforth be capable of defeating an adversary, but too small to carry out protracted foreign occupations. The proposal reflects US fiscal realities and the policies of a president committed to end two inherited US land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The budget plan does maintain money for the costly and controversial F-35 warplane which is on order by several Western countries including Israel.