Defense budget cuts are forcing the U.S. Army to cut thousands of officers from its ranks. “Probably this year, we will ask 1,500 captains to leave the service, and we will ask probably 400 to 500 majors to leave the service,” says General Ray Odierno. This follows the Pentagon’s announcement earlier this year of a massive reduction in Army personal, which could reduce their troop size to “as small as 420,000 in the active component,” according to Odierno. Is it any wonder leaders like Russian president Vladimir Putin, China, North Korea, the Iranian regime and the rest of the Middle East don’t take Obama seriously? As America’s Armed Forces and military capabilities weaken, our enemies are taking note.