While they may differ on the numbers, both the Obama administration and key members of Congress have acknowledged that Pentagon spending must be a part of any genuine deficit reduction plan. But the question of whether or how much to cut defense spending ultimately hinges on a larger question: what missions do we want our armed forces to undertake? From preparing to fight major operations like Iraq and Afghanistan, to responding to China’s growing military capabilities, to joining in coalition efforts against tyrants in Libya and elsewhere, there is no lack of potential missions for the U.S. armed forces. The question is which missions are essential, which are secondary, and which, if any, may be addressed through non-military means. Join a panel of policy experts to explore these timely and critical policy issues.