Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "Cutting the Pentagon's Budget is a Gift To Our Enemies" with McCain Institute, June 19th in DC

On Wednesday, June 19th, Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) makes a third return to the hub of policy, Washington, DC, to present a debate in partnership with the McCain Institute for International Leadership: "Cutting the Pentagon's Budget is a Gift To Our Enemies." Free to the public, the debate will be moderated by ABC News correspondent and D.C. resident, John Donvan. 

As a result of the sequester in March, the Pentagon has six months to eliminate billions of dollars from the current year's budget, and unlike past cuts, this time everything is on the table. Could the sequester be a rare opportunity to overhaul the armed forces, or will its impact damage military readiness and endanger national security?

Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., a West Point graduate and defense policy analyst who currently serves as President of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments will argue in support of the motion with Thomas Donnelly, a defense and security policy analyst, author, and co-director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at AEI. Kori Schake, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and senior foreign and defense policy adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign will argue against the motion with Benjamin H. Friedman, a research fellow in defense and homeland security studies at Cato Institute and co-editor of two books on counter-terrorism, homeland security and defense politics.

Intelligence Squared U.S. debates are streamed live on Fora.tv and available as an acclaimed podcast. Regularly recorded for NPR and PBS in New York City, and heard on more than 220 NPR stations nationwide, this special D.C. edition is part of the series' mission to raise the level of public discourse in the United States and beyond. Additional debates have recently taken place in Chicago and Aspen.

WHAT: Free Debate: "Cutting the Pentagon's Budget is a Gift To Our Enemies
WHEN: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 / Reception 4:30 PM-5:15 PM/ Debate 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building Amphitheater, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
TICKETS: Free with RSVP. To reserve, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6697621767

Before the debate, audience members will vote on the motion; afterward, the audience votes again. The team that moves the most voters to its side will be the winning team in this provocative debate.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED DEBATES (IQ2US)
Named One of "Five Podcasts that Will Change the Way You Think" by Forbes, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in New York City in 2006 by Robert Rosenkranz, and has grown into an internationally syndicated series heard and watched by millions. The debates have attracted some of the world's top thinkers including Paul Krugman, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, Alan Dershowitz, Peter Thiel and Arianna Huffington. Intelligence Squared U.S. has presented over 70 debates on a wide range of provocative topics including global warming, the financial crisis, the marketing of organic foods, and the death of mainstream media. ABC News correspondent John Donvan is the moderator, and the executive producer is Dana Wolfe.

ABOUT THE MCCAIN INTITUTE
The McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University is a center for research and action in national security and foreign policy. It seeks to promote leadership and decision-making, in the best American tradition of open inquiry, spirited discussion and practical action. Through its policy research, events, fellows programs, and other activities, the Institute aims to inform, convene, train and assist current and future leaders from the United States and abroad. Get involved at www.mccaininstitute.org