Defense cuts– Today’s Q’s for O’s WH
EmailCecilia Vega: Just to follow up on [the defense cuts], what message then might this send to North Korea? And is there any concern that this new focus on Asia might be provoking in any way this new, untested leader?
And then domestically on the same issue, defense companies are talking about losing hundreds of jobs, potentially thousands as a result of these defense cuts. What do you say to that?
MR. CARNEY: As regards North Korea and the change in leadership there, I mean, obviously that’s a recent development and the president’s focus on Asia and his goal of rebalancing our strategic view towards Asia long predates that, so there’s no relation there. And our position on North Korea remains as it was.
On the issue of budget cuts, these are the product of a bipartisan bill, the Budget Control Act that was passed, as you know, in August. And the fact of the matter is that after 9/11, for good reason, our defense budget increased rather dramatically and for a sustained period of time. And over the past three years our defense budget has been increasing. So we are making sensible choices that reflect our need to get our fiscal house in order, and we are making those choices driven by a strategy rather than just giving the Defense Department an across-the-board haircut, because that would be irresponsible.
We’re eliminating old Cold War programs to ensure that we can enhance our investment in intelligence, reconnaissance and other areas that are more suited for modern-day defense strategy.
So there’s no question that there are difficult choices involved in this, but the fact of the matter is that even with these cuts our budget, defense budget, will be substantial and larger even than it was towards the end of the Bush administration.
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The republicans are amazing. For three years they been telling us that if we don’t cut government spending the sky will fall, our grandchildren will be all mal-nourished and disease ridden. Now that they’ve gotten some of what they want with the defense cuts they are telling us the Huns and Mongols are massing on our borders and we are all doomed. If they can’t tell the truth at least be consistent.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 5, 2012, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
TMFERRETTI get your facts right. Cutting defense will leave this country even more open to the terrorists if you have forgot declared war on the USA. You think this is part of Obamas Apology to the Terrorists and Iran to cut the Military. Why not cut out the Stimulus that does not work theres a chunk of change. The borders are under siege and you know it. Watch NATGEO and see the Border wras specials. Thats all you can come up with? The Dems promise to care for the poor? When? They say the same thing every year and blame others for their control of both houses and the president when they had it. The dems preach to go after the rich. Duhhh you think that the millionaire dems will tax themselves or leave a loop hole for their greed. Man get your facts and stop watching Rachael
Posted by: Jim Rod | January 5, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Posted by: Jim Rod | January 5, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Jim you seem to have forgotten Obama’s administration has taken out almost all of the top leadership of al Qaeda (the terrorists). Far more effective than Bush’s bone-head attack on Iraq which cost more than the stimulus and achieved what exactly for us?
Also, the Obama administration has set records for the number of illegal immigrants deported, more than the Republican Bush.
When you speak of facts, let’s have some.
Posted by: dave | January 5, 2012, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Most of the top leadership of al Qaeda was gone before Obama ever took office.iraq was the graveyard of al Qaeda-they never recovered from the losses of their most dedicated and motivated operatives.They have not been able to mount a successful attack against us since.
Posted by: Nephron | January 5, 2012, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
Posted by: Nephron | January 5, 2012, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
You really think just fabricating history is a good idea? Obama has taken out amost all of the top leadership of al Qaeda including bin Laden. This had not been done before he took office.
Posted by: John | January 5, 2012, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
john wrote:”Obama has taken out amost all of the top leadership of al Qaeda including bin Laden. ”
.
And you know this how? Because oBama said so? He’s a proven liar….
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
john wrote:”Obama has taken out amost all of the top leadership of al Qaeda including bin Laden. ”
And you know this how? Because oBama said so? He’s a proven liar….
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
Yes, and I know Bush and Cheney did 9/11 because they said they didn’t and they’re both proven liars. Right . . .
Please come up with something a little more substantial.
Posted by: John | January 5, 2012, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
john wrote:”Please come up with something a little more substantial.”
.
See if you can come up with the DNA test that supposedly identified Bin Laden before he was dumped into the sea within 24 hours. See if you can find a DNA test with conclusive results within 24 hours. See how substantial that would be if you could find one.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
What we do know is that George Bush first said he’d get bin Laden dead or alive, that he was going to ‘smoke him out’, and then later changed his tune saying he doesn’t think about bin Laden and that bin Laden wasn’t important.
Maybe bin Laden never existed in any threatening way other than as a boogie man prop of the American government under Bush – and now finally laid to rest by Obama.
If so, you’re looking towards Bush for initiating the hoax on the American people, and Obama for putting it to rest.
My idle speculation is just as good – if not better than – your idle speculation that bin Laden wasn’t killed as the President said.
Posted by: John | January 5, 2012, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
@john…. your idle speculation is substantial. It would be even more substantial if you could find a DNA test that gives you conclusive results within 24 hours. oBama said it was so…. you ought to be able to find how they did that…. right?
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
It would be even more substantial if you could find a DNA test that gives you conclusive results within 24 hours.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
“At the UK’s Forensic Science Service (FSS), urgent samples can be prioritized on request and, once delivered to a lab, can be processed in about eight hours.”
Who says the U.S. government does not have this capability? Prove the U.S. government does not have this capability. Provide evidence it’s not possible.
Your idle speculation is just that – you have nothing substantial.
Posted by: John | January 5, 2012, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
john wrote:”Provide evidence it’s not possible.”
.
Provide evidence that it was Bin Laden. oBama “deeming” it so doesn’t make it so. Burial at sea in accordance with islamic practice? Really? How many muslems do you know get buried at sea. How are they gonna face mecca. One thing it does though…. it prevents any confirming DNA or other type of analysis…. adios!
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | January 5, 2012, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
You probably believed Bush too . . .
Posted by: John | January 6, 2012, 3:05 am 3:05 am
To Everyone,
Don’t waste time arguing foreign policy with the Tea party gang. Sean Hannity can go on national television and say that Bush got bin Laden. This egregious error by a major representative of that network went unretracted and unchallenged. No wonder their viewers fail to appreciate the accomplishements of the Obama administration in foreign policy. Of course they don’t believe that Obama got bin Laden…. they think Bush did it years ago…. Sean hannity said so!
They are willing to swallow enormous amounts of absolute bs provided it passes through Limbaugh’s or Murdoch’s outlet. They will digest that bs, feed it to their friends, regurgitate it and try to make us eat it…. the whole time, believing that this foul waste is manna from heaven.
On the other hand, if you present them with a simple, untainted, unblemished fact… they will get violently ill. It’s just not worth it.
(If you doubt me….. check out Rick Santorum telling Fox viewers that he was talking about “blah people” rather than “black people”? Crazy!)
Posted by: blip | January 6, 2012, 3:23 am 3:23 am