it is clear that sequestration would risk hollowing out our force and reducing its military options available to the nation. we would go from being unquestionably powerful everywhere to being less visible globally, and presenting less of an overmatch to our adversaries. it was designed as a meat a, designed to be a disaster. because that the hope was it s such a disaster congress would respond and do what was right and so i m just here to tell you, yes, it would be a disaster. that was the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff mark dempsey and leon panetta making their case yesterday against across-the-board defense cuts. the automatic reductions do go into effect next january, the pentagon is going to have to cut