This week, top military leaders issued a stark warning to Congress: "You've pushed the Pentagon to the brink of a crisis."

The letter -- signed by the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Joint Chiefs of Staff -- says the threat of automatic budget cuts and the failure to pass a 2013 defense budget put the Pentagon at risk of a "hollow force."

John Donnelly, senior writer and editor of "Executive Briefing Defense" for CQ Roll Call, discussed the issue with Capital Insider.