Military is government. It is also a form of welfare. Finally, war affords incredible profit to those invested in infrastructure, oil, etc.
By definition, cuts necessitate a counterbalance of competing values and constituencies. No constituency is better than another.
(A) Have very reasonable expectations; (B) Educate yourself and perform due diligence; (C) Don't enter without a strategic plan and target, for both best and worst case scenarios; and (D) Lead inward/outward and never follow.