30 Issues: Big Military

30 Issues in 30 Days is our election year series on the important issues facing the country this election year. Today: Emerging issues of modern warfare and the near future of the U.S. military. Visit the 30 Issue home page for all the conversations.

Open Prep: Questions, Articles, and Links to Get You Started

Key Questions

• Does one country need half the world's military?
• Is the War on Terror over?
• What are the moral challenges surrounding drone warfare?
• Does the U.S. military have humanitarian obligations?

What are your key questions on this topic? Post them below and get the conversation going!

Guests

• Nora Bensahel, senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, to discuss the Obama and Romney military budget plans, and what US military spending priorities today
• Noah Shachtman, fellow with the Brookings 21st Century Defense Initiative and Editor of Wired's Danger Room blog, to discuss the rise of drone warfare under Obama 

Key Reading

Budget

• Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity (CNAS)
• Washington Post Issue Engine: Military Spending
• 5 Ways Obama and Romney Differ on Military (CSM)

Drones

• How the Obama Administration Justifies Targeted Killings (CFR)
• The Strategic Context of Lethal Drones (American Security Project)
• Room For Debate: Do Drone Attacks Do More Harm Than Good? (NYTimes)
• Map: Pakistani Drone Strikes (New America Foundation)

In Our Longform Guide: Elisabeth Bumiller on Drone Pilots

Screening Room

30 Issues Interactive from the WNYC Data News Team

Got a Follow Up?

Each Friday we'll be following up on one of that week's issues. Got a particular follow-up question from this conversation? Comment below or tweet us. Tweet to @brianlehrer