“The American Military: War and Peace, Spending and Politics” - Andrew Bacevich and Derek Chollet

Andrew Bacevich and Derek Chollet Author

02/12/2014 Added

323 Plays

Description

In moderated debate style, Bacevich and Chollet will discuss the following topics and take questions from the audience.

What is the right size and role of the U.S. military today?
Drones, surveillance and technology – how and when should they be used?
Does the all-volunteer military influence America’s willingness to intervene globally? Would a draft reduce U.S. military involvement?
Is the permanent commitment of U.S. troops abroad in peaceful nations necessary and sustainable?

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[00:00:36.166]>> GOOD EVENING.
[00:00:36.800][ APPLAUSE ] GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU
[00:00:43.800]FOR COMING TONIGHT.
[00:00:44.367]I AM A PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
[00:00:53.367]NEBRASKA LINCOLN.
[00:00:54.834]I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FORUM ON WORLD ISSUES.
[00:00:58.900]FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS THE UNIVERSITY HAS PARTNERED WITH
[00:01:03.333]THE COOPER FOUNDATION TO BRING TO LINCOLN INSIGHTFUL SPEAKERS
[00:01:08.066]AND TO ENGAGE THE NEBRASKA COMMUNITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC IN
[00:01:11.734]IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL OF US IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD.
[00:01:16.633]THIS LECTURE SERIES IS NAMED IN THE HONOR OF THE
[00:01:22.433]LATE E.N. JACK THOMPSON.
[00:01:24.000]FEWER INDIVIDUALS WERE AS SUPPORTIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
[00:01:28.133]NEBRASKA AS HIM.
[00:01:29.800]WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE FAMILY AND THE COOPER FOUNDATION FOR
[00:01:33.867]THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT OF THIS LECTURE SERIES.
[00:01:36.066]IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT'S LECTURE IS
[00:01:41.600]THE ANNUAL CHUCK AND LINDA WILSON DIALOGUE.
[00:01:46.400]DOCTOR CHUCK WILSON IS A RETIRED CARDIOLOGIST WHO SERVED ON THE
[00:01:51.000]NEBRASKA BOARD OF REGENTS FOR MANY YEARS.
[00:01:56.433]HIS WIFE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND
[00:02:01.433]PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION.
[00:02:01.834]THEIR GOAL IS TO PRESENT-DIVE PERSPECTIVES ON CRITICAL
[00:02:08.433]IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.
[00:02:09.866]AS FOR THE FORMAT TONIGHT, OUR TWO DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS WILL
[00:02:15.133]DELIVER OPENING STATEMENTS OF ABOUT 15 MINUTES EACH AND THEN
[00:02:18.400]THEY WILL ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION BASED ON A FEW QUESTIONS I WILL
[00:02:22.467]ASK THEM, ASK YOU THE AUDIENCE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
[00:02:28.734]QUESTIONS OF THEM VIA NOTE CARDS DISTRIBUTED BY THE USHERS LATER
[00:02:32.934]IN THE PROGRAM.
[00:02:33.934]FINALLY THE SPEAKERS WILL DELIVER BRIEF
[00:02:36.800]CLOSING STATEMENTS.
[00:02:37.233]TONIGHT WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HEARING FROM TWO OF THE WORLD'S
[00:02:42.133]LEADING EXPERTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE
[00:02:46.000]UNITED STATES MILITARY.
[00:02:46.367]OUR FIRST SPEAKER, DEREK CHOLLET IS A LINCOLN NATIVE, A GRADUATE
[00:02:51.967]OF CORNELL AND LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:02:59.533]AND FORMER DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING.
[00:03:06.200]HE'S THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE FOR INTERNATIONAL
[00:03:13.533]AFFAIRS.
[00:03:13.867]HE SERVES TO CHUCK HAGEL ON INTERNATIONAL POLICY ISSUES.
[00:03:23.934]ASSISTANT SECRETARY IS ALSO THE COAUTHOR AND AUTHOR OF SEVERAL
[00:03:31.734]LOOKS ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.
[00:03:33.133]SECOND SPEAKER IS ANDREW BACEVICH, PROFESSOR AT
[00:03:37.533]BOSTON UNIVERSITY.
[00:03:37.934]HE SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR AS WELL
[00:03:42.133]AS IN GERMANY AND IN THE PERSIAN GULF BEFORE RETIRING AS A
[00:03:50.033]COLONEL IN THE 1990s.
[00:03:51.834]HE HOLDS A PHD FROM PRINCETON.
[00:03:55.400]HE'S PUBLISHED SEVERAL WIDELY READ BOOKS ON AMERICAN FOREIGN
[00:04:01.066]POLICY AND MILITARY HISTORY, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH IS ENTITLED
[00:04:06.600]"BREACH OF TRUST: HOW AMERICANS FAILED THEIR SOLDIERS
[00:04:08.133]AND THEIR COUNTRY".
[00:04:10.967]PROFESSOR BACEVICH HAS DEVELOPED A WELL DESERVED REPUTATION AS
[00:04:14.200]ONE OF THE MOST CLEAR-EYED CRITICS OF AMERICAN POLITICS AND
[00:04:18.466]U.S. FOREIGN POLICY.
[00:04:19.600]LET ME JUST ANNOUNCE FINALLY BEFORE WE GET GOING HERE THAT
[00:04:23.567]BOOKS BY BOTH PROFESSOR BACEVICH AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
[00:04:29.133]DEFENSE CHOLLET WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE LOBBY
[00:04:32.033]FOLLOWING THIS DIALOGUE.
[00:04:33.734]SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ANDREW BACEVICH AND DEREK
[00:04:38.166]CHOLLET.
[00:04:39.367][ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.
[00:04:49.367]THANK YOU.
[00:04:50.166]IT IS TRULY MY HONOR TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU TONIGHT.
[00:04:53.834]IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME IN LINCOLN WITH SO MANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
[00:04:57.433]HERE, AND ALTHOUGH I'VE LIVED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR A BETTER
[00:05:01.066]PART OF 20 YEARS, I REMAIN A PROUD NEBRASKAN.
[00:05:06.734]AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH ANOTHER PROUD
[00:05:10.600]NEBRASKAN, OUR STATE'S FORMER SENATOR AND NOW SECRETARY OF
[00:05:14.567]DEFENSE, CHUCK HAGEL.
[00:05:15.533]DURING THE PAST YEAR I HAVE TRAVELED WITH HIM TO THE MIDDLE
[00:05:18.300]EAST TO EUROPE AND ASIA AND WALKED HIM TACKLE MANY ISSUES.
[00:05:27.467]I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
[00:05:31.567]NEBRASKAN AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
[00:05:32.834]IT'S SPECIAL FOR ME TO BE ON THE UNL CAMPUS, A PLACE WHERE I
[00:05:37.467]SPENT PRETTY MUCH EVERY FALL SATURDAY OF MY CHILDHOOD GROWING
[00:05:41.367]UP IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.
[00:05:44.200]I'M ALSO PROUD TO BE HERE AS PART OF THE THOMPSON FORUM AND I
[00:05:49.133]THANK THE WILSON FAMILY FOR PUTTING THIS DIALOGUE TOGETHER
[00:05:52.433]AND I THANK THE THOMPSON FAMILY.
[00:05:55.300]IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AT AN EVENT WITH PEOPLE WE'VE
[00:05:59.734]CONSIDERED FRIENDS SINCE THE 1970'S.
[00:06:01.900]I ALSO FEEL HONORED TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH PROFESSOR BACEVICH.
[00:06:06.700]I'M SURE TIM DOESN'T REMEMBER, BUT I MET HIM IN THE '90s WHEN
[00:06:10.600]I WAS AT CORNELL AND HE WAS A YOUNG FACULTY MEMBER.
[00:06:16.033]I REMEMBER ATTENDING A LECTURE WITH HIM ON AMERICAN FOREIGN
[00:06:20.467]POLICY AND I'M GLAD TO BE SHARING THE STAGE WITH HIM FOR
[00:06:24.333]YET ANOTHER TALK ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND I'M GLAD
[00:06:28.066]WE'RE DOING IT SOMEWHERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE
[00:06:30.767]CORNELL STUDENT LOUNGE.
[00:06:31.834]AND FINALLY I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH PROFESSOR ANDREW
[00:06:37.000]BACEVICH WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST BRIGHTEST AND COMPELLING
[00:06:41.367]THINKERS ON AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN POLICY THAT WE HAVE.
[00:06:44.567]ANDY IS SOMEONE YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO AGREE WITH, BUT YOU WILL
[00:06:49.133]ALWAYS LEARN FROM.
[00:06:50.300]I REMEMBER BEING IN A MEETING WITH SECRETARY HAGEL AND THE
[00:06:55.934]CHAIRMAN OF OUR STAFF BROUGHT UP THE DAYS' NEWS CLIPS, ONE OF
[00:07:02.266]WHICH PROFESSOR BACEVICH HAD WRITTEN.
[00:07:07.266]I'M PRETTY SURE THE SUBJECT WAS CRITICIZING OUR POLICY AND I'M
[00:07:11.000]PRETTY SURE IT STUNG, BUT I REMEMBER THAT BOTH THE CHAIRMAN
[00:07:13.567]AND THE SECRETARY REMARKING THAT THEY KNEW YOU AND THAT THEY
[00:07:18.100]ADMIRED YOU AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT YOU'RE A VERY SMART GUY.
[00:07:21.266]SO I CAN ASSURE ALL OF YOU THAT ANDREW BACEVICH IS SOMEONE TAKEN
[00:07:26.233]VERY SERIOUSLY AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND I
[00:07:30.000]LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM HIM TONIGHT.
[00:07:32.066]IT'S VERY GOOD FOR ME TO BE OUT OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. BUBBLE
[00:07:36.633]FOR A COUPLE DAY'S PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S FIRST SECRETARY
[00:07:39.500]OF DEFENSE, ROBERT GATES WHO IS A PROUD KANSAN ALWAYS MADE IT A
[00:07:44.367]HABIT TO GET OUT OF WASHINGTON EVERY NOW AND AGAIN AND SPEAK TO
[00:07:48.767]AUDIENCES LIKE THIS.
[00:07:50.867]SECRETARY GATES KEPT A HEALTHY MIDWESTERN PERSPECTIVE ON OUR
[00:07:54.467]NATION'S CAPITOL AND IT'S ONE I'VE TRIED TO REMEMBER AND KEEP
[00:07:57.467]IN MIND.
[00:07:58.166]WE USED TO OBSERVE THAT WASHINGTON IS A ROAD WHERE THOSE
[00:08:02.934]WHO TRAVEL THE HIGH ROAD OF HUMILITY ENCOUNTER VERY LITTLE
[00:08:06.533]TRAFFIC.
[00:08:06.900][ LAUGHTER ] WHERE PEOPLE OFTEN SAY I BELIEVE
[00:08:12.433]WHEN I CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN I
[00:08:16.467]WHICH TO IT.
[00:08:17.633]AND YOU CAN SEE LOVERS WALKING DOWN LOVERS LANE HOLDING THEIR
[00:08:21.533]OWN HANDS.
[00:08:22.233][ LAUGHTER ] I'LL FOCUS ON THREE AREAS THAT
[00:08:25.100]ARE DEFINED IN THE U.S. DEFENSE POLICY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
[00:08:29.200]FIRST WINDING DOWN THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, SECOND
[00:08:33.200]ADJUSTING DEFENSE SPENDING TO NEW BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WHILE
[00:08:37.100]ENSURING WE HAVE A DEFENSE STRATEGY THAT SECURES
[00:08:43.166]OUR INTERESTS.
[00:08:44.066]AND RECALIBRATING THE ROLE OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ALONGSIDE
[00:08:48.967]DIPLOMACY AND DEVELOPMENT.
[00:08:50.166]I'LL START WITH THE HIGHEST SECURITY PRESIDENT OBAMA FACED
[00:08:53.500]WHEN COMES INTO OFFICE DEALING WITH THE WARS IN IRAQ
[00:08:57.200]IN AFGHANISTAN.
[00:08:57.633]IN FEBRUARY 2009, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN AT WAR FOR
[00:09:01.967]MORE THAN A DECADE.
[00:09:03.500]THERE WERE 180,000 AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN IRAQ AND
[00:09:07.667]ASK INCLUDING FROM THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD AND FEW
[00:09:11.734]COMMENTATORS OR COMMON CITIZENS BELIEVED AT THE TIME THAT EITHER
[00:09:15.734]CONFLICT WAS GOING PARTICULARLY WELL.
[00:09:18.433]THE IRAQ WAR WAS A BITTER ISSUE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE CENTRAL
[00:09:23.300]QUESTION OF THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
[00:09:28.233]THEN PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PROMISED A WITHDRAWAL OF U.S.
[00:09:31.900]FORCES FROM IRAQ AND IN MARCH 2009 HE ANNOUNCED A NEW STRATEGY
[00:09:37.700]TO REMOVE THE COMBAT MISSION BY REMOVING ALL TROOPS BY 2011.
[00:09:42.900]IN AFGHANISTAN, HE SURGED MILITARY FORCES WHILE THEY URGE
[00:09:46.900]THE MISSION TO A TIGHT FOCUS ON
[00:09:53.066]DISMANTLING AND DEFEATING AL-QAIDA.
[00:09:57.567]MORE THAN 3400 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST INCLUDING 14 NEBRASKANS.
[00:10:05.367]IN IRAQ ALL U.S. FORCES LEFT AT THE END OF 2011 AND NOW WE ARE
[00:10:09.367]DEVELOPING WHAT WE AT THE PENTAGON CALL A NORMAL DEFENSE
[00:10:12.667]RELATIONSHIP WITH THE IRAQIS.
[00:10:14.166]IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BUT WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH ADVICE AND
[00:10:17.266]EQUIPMENT NEEDS.
[00:10:18.367]AND IN AFGHANISTAN NEARLY 60,000 U.S. TROOPS HAVE COME HOME AND
[00:10:23.467]THE 34,000 THAT REMAIN TODAY WILL WITHDRAW BY THE END
[00:10:28.133]OF THE YEAR.
[00:10:28.467]THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OF OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS COULD
[00:10:32.467]MAINTAIN A SMALL PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN TO HELP TRAIN,
[00:10:35.967]ADVISE AND ASSIST THE AFGHAN FORCES AND HELP WITH
[00:10:40.600]COUNTER TERRORISM.
[00:10:41.100]THE COST OF THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN HAVE BEEN FOR FOUND
[00:10:45.633]IN BLOOD AND TREASURE.
[00:10:47.834]7,000 AMERICANS HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND TENS OF
[00:10:51.900]THOUSANDS CARRY THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WOUNDS OF WAR.
[00:10:59.433]IN THE END SOME ESTIMATE THESE WARS WILL HAVE COST NEARLY $6
[00:11:05.433]TRILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY AND DISABILITY AND MEDICAL COSTS
[00:11:09.033]WILL CONTINUE FOR DECADES.
[00:11:10.600]MANY OF THESE FINANCIAL COSTS WERE NECESSARY TO GET THE
[00:11:13.367]EQUIPMENT AND NEEDS TO THE WAR FIGHTER BUT AFTER 9/11 THE
[00:11:18.867]DEFENSE BUDGET BALLOONED.
[00:11:20.867]PARTICULARLY AFTER THE CRISIS OF 2008 AND THE NATION'S DEFICITS
[00:11:26.867]GREW SO RAPIDLY.
[00:11:28.400]THAT'S WHY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS SET OUT TO
[00:11:32.166]REDUCE DEFENSE SPENDING.
[00:11:33.867]PENTAGON LEADERS HAVE HAD TO DO WHAT EVERYONE DOES WHEN THINGS
[00:11:38.400]GET TIGHT.
[00:11:39.200]THEY CUT SPENDING ON LOWER PRIORITIES OR THINGS THAT ARE
[00:11:42.266]NOT TRULY NEEDED.
[00:11:43.767]THIS HAPPENED WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GATES IN 2009 WHEN HE
[00:11:46.000]SET OUT TO CUT OR CURTAIL MORE THAN 30 MILITARY MODERNIZATION
[00:11:52.667]PROGRAMS THAT WERE EITHER TOO COSTLY OR POORLY SUITED TO
[00:11:56.734]CURRENT NEEDS.
[00:11:58.767]THESE SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE COST THE TAXPAYERS MORE THAN
[00:12:03.000]$300 MILLION.
[00:12:03.400]SECRETARY GATES BEGAN CUTTING THE BLOATED BUDGET IN ORDER TO
[00:12:06.600]DIRECT MORE MONEY TO MILITARY CAPABILITIES.
[00:12:09.333]THESE DEFENSE REFORM EFFORTS CONTINUED UNDER PRESIDENT
[00:12:13.266]OBAMA'S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA AND CONTINUED TODAY
[00:12:19.533]UNDER SECRETARY HAGEL.
[00:12:22.600]SECRETARY LEON PANETTA WAS ONLY TWO MONTHS ON THE JOB WHEN
[00:12:26.467]CONGRESS REQUIRED A $487 BILLION FROM THE BUDGET OF A CUT.
[00:12:32.767]AND ON THE SECOND DAY AT THE PENTAGON FOR SECRETARY HAGEL A
[00:12:37.767]SECOND ROUND OF ABRUPT CUTS WERE DONE UNDER SEQUESTER.
[00:12:45.166]SEQUESTER IS A PHRASE THAT ONLY FOLKS IN WASHINGTON CAN COME UP
[00:12:48.166]WITH, BUT WHAT IT MEANT WAS A NEW ROUND OF CUTS OF $50 BILLION
[00:12:51.900]OVER TEN YEARS HAD TO BE MADE WITHOUT ANY DISCRETION OR
[00:12:55.834]ABILITY TO CHANGE THEM.
[00:12:58.166]ALTHOUGH THIS BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WAS PASSED BY
[00:13:01.700]CONGRESS LAST DECEMBER GIVES DOD SOME RELIEF FROM SEQUESTRATION,
[00:13:08.266]$70 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL CUTS ARE STILL NECESSARY DURING THE
[00:13:11.000]NEXT TWO YEARS.
[00:13:12.500]ALL THREE SECRETARY OF DEFENSES HAVE IMPLEMENTED SPENDING CUTS
[00:13:16.133]AND HAVE RECOGNIZED THE CENTRAL FACT THIS IS NOT JUST A MATH
[00:13:20.633]EXERCISE THAT WE HAVE WORKED
[00:13:32.633]HARD TO ALIGN OUR DEFENSE STRATEGY WITH THIS NEW
[00:13:37.867]FISCAL REALITY.
[00:13:38.600]FUNDAMENTALLY STRATEGY IS ABOUT CHOICES.
[00:13:41.433]AND HAVING TO DO WITH LESS HELPS CLARIFY PRIORITIES AND
[00:13:44.567]TRADE-OFFS.
[00:13:44.967]WITH THIS IN MIND DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THE
[00:13:47.667]ADMINISTRATION HAS IN THE TAKEN SEVERAL STRATEGIC REVIEWS TO
[00:13:51.834]LINE OUR STRATEGY WITH OUR BUDGET AND OUR NATIONAL HIGH
[00:13:55.967]SECURITY PRIORITIES.
[00:13:57.000]THESE ARE ALL TO DEFINE A DEFENSE POLICY THAT PROTECTS
[00:14:01.333]NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS WITH SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES.
[00:14:04.133]NEXT MONTH THE PRESIDENT WILL SUBMIT TO THE CONGRESS A NEW
[00:14:06.967]BUDGET WHICH WILL INCLUDE A FIVE YEAR DEFENSE SPENDING PLAN AND
[00:14:10.800]THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ONE AFTER THE 13 YEARS OF
[00:14:15.500]POST-9/11 CONFLICT.
[00:14:15.867]WHILE I CAN'T SHARE ANY PARTICULARS OF THE BUDGET WITH
[00:14:18.734]YOU TONIGHT, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THIS WILL REFLECT SIX STRATEGIC
[00:14:24.367]PRIORITIES THAT SECRETARY HAGEL FIRST OUTLINED LAST FALL.
[00:14:28.133]FIRST THE PENTAGON WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
[00:14:31.800]INSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
[00:14:32.500]SECRETARY HAGEL HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED A 20% REDUCTION OF THE
[00:14:36.700]DEPARTMENT'S MAJOR HEADQUARTERS BEGINNING IN THE OFFICE OF THE
[00:14:39.467]SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
[00:14:40.066]SECOND AS WE COME OUT OF MORE OF A DECADE OF WAR, THE MILITARY
[00:14:44.700]WILL REASSESS THE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE
[00:14:49.967]SCENARIOS FOR WHICH IT ORGANIZES AND TRAINS.
[00:14:55.767]THE MILITARY WILL FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE READINESS
[00:14:59.367]CHALLENGES CAUSED BY SEQUESTRATION IN ORDER TO AVOID
[00:15:05.533]ANOTHER VIETNAM.
[00:15:07.633]FOURTH, THE MILITARY WILL PROTECT INVESTMENTS IN EMERGING
[00:15:11.233]MILITARY CAPABILITIES, ESPECIALLY SPACE, CYBER, SPECIAL
[00:15:15.000]OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE.
[00:15:20.166]SECRETARY HAGEL HAS MADE CLEAR HE WANTS TO HAVE THE RIGHT MIX
[00:15:27.133]OF FORCES IN THE RIGHT PLACE AROUND THE WORLD TO ACCOMPLISH
[00:15:29.800]THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST LIKELY MISSIONS OF THE FUTURE.
[00:15:33.467]SECRETARY HAGEL HAS SAID WE WILL HAVE TO ACHIEVE SAVINGS IN
[00:15:37.500]MILITARY COMPENSATION WHICH HAS GROWN 40% ABOVE THE PRIVATE
[00:15:41.433]SECTOR SINCE 2011 IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY FUND TRAINING AND
[00:15:45.000]MODERNIZATION.
[00:15:45.467]OTHERWISE WE RISK BECOMING A FORCE THAT IS -- PRESIDENT
[00:15:51.967]BARACK OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS JUST LAST MONTH HE
[00:15:55.033]MADE CLEAR THAT AMERICA MUST MOVE OFF A PERMANENT WAR
[00:15:59.200]FOOTING.
[00:15:59.533]A KEY PART OF THAT IS PUTTING A BUDGET AND A STRATEGY ON A
[00:16:05.233]SUSTAINABLE COURSE, BUT ALSO RECALIBRATING THE ROLE OF
[00:16:07.834]MILITARY POWER AND USE OF FORCE IN AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY
[00:16:12.133]POLICIES BY BEING VERY JUDICIOUS ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE.
[00:16:16.433]MAKE NO MISTAKE THE WORLD REMAINS A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE
[00:16:19.867]AND AT TIMES MILITARY FORCE WILL BE NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR
[00:16:24.633]INTERESTS.
[00:16:25.000]DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE TAKEN THE FIGHT TO
[00:16:27.934]AL-QAIDA AND DECIMATED AL-QAIDA'S TOP LEADERSHIP
[00:16:31.834]INCLUDING OSAMA BIN LADEN.
[00:16:34.533]THAT DOESN'T MEAN MILITARY FORCE IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO
[00:16:41.767]ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.
[00:16:42.300]CONSIDER LIBYA AND SYRIA.
[00:16:43.500]IN LIBYA THREE YEARS AGO, POTENTIALLY WIPING OUT HUNDREDS
[00:16:49.066]OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS WERE THREATENED THE UNITED STATES AND
[00:16:52.700]OUR KEY ALLIES INTERVENED.
[00:16:58.100]RATHER THAN INVADE LIBYA, WE USED AIR POWER.
[00:17:04.433]FROM TIME PRESIDENT OBAMA DECIDED TO INTERVENE HE MADE
[00:17:06.834]VERY CLEAR THAT THE ROLE THE U.S. SHOULD PLAY MUST BE LIMITED
[00:17:09.767]TO ITS UNIQUE CAPABILITIES SUCH AS INTELLIGENCE, AIR LIFT,
[00:17:13.834]REFUELING AND PRECISION MUNITIONS AND THAT WE NEEDED TO
[00:17:17.333]WORK TO GET OTHER COUNTRIES TO STEP UP, WHICH THEY DID.
[00:17:20.532]IT'S TRUE THE UNITED STATES PROVIDED THE BULK OF THE
[00:17:23.133]MILITARY MUSCLE IN THE BEGINNING.
[00:17:24.834]BUT THE OPERATION DEMONSTRATED THE VALUE FOR OUR ALLIES TO
[00:17:29.133]MAINTAIN HIGHLY CAPABLE MILITARIES THAT PLAN, TRAIN AND
[00:17:35.233]EQUIP TOGETHER.
[00:17:36.233]OVERALL U.S. FORCES FLEW MORE THAN 10% OF THE STRIKE MISSIONS
[00:17:41.333]IN LIBYA WHILE THE UK AND FRANCE WERE NEARLY HALF.
[00:17:45.333]SIMPLY PUT, LIBYA WAS NOT AMERICA'S FIGHT ALONE AND IT
[00:17:49.100]SHOWED THAT LEADING IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT CHARGING AHEAD BUT
[00:17:52.900]OFTEN ABOUT ENABLING COLLECTIVE ACTION.
[00:17:54.734]AND THEN LAST SUMMER IN SYRIA THE ASSAD REGIME USED CHEMICAL
[00:18:00.667]WEAPONS TO KILL OVER 1300 INNOCENT CIVILIANS.
[00:18:04.667]AFTER THESE ATTACKS THE PRESIDENT ORDERED THE PENTAGON
[00:18:10.567]TO DEVELOP PLANS TO DEGRADE THE MILITARY CAPABILITY AND
[00:18:15.033]WILLINGNESS TO CONDUCT FURTHER CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS.
[00:18:18.166]AS WE PREPARED FOR MILITARY ACTION, POSITIONING SHIPS AND
[00:18:21.367]PLANES INTO POSITION TO STRIKE, THE PRESIDENT MADE THE BOLD
[00:18:24.233]DECISION TO SEEK CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR THE USE
[00:18:27.834]OF FORCE.
[00:18:28.166]HE BELIEVED THAT WHILE AS A CONSTITUTIONAL MATTER PRESIDENT
[00:18:32.533]RESERVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE MILITARY ON THEIR OWN THE
[00:18:36.100]COUNTRY IS ALWAYS STRONGER IF WE ARE UNIFIED AND USE SUPPORT
[00:18:41.133]THROUGH THE CONGRESS AND THROUGH THE CONGRESS, THE
[00:18:44.066]AMERICAN PEOPLE.
[00:18:44.400]I WAS AN OFFICIAL ASSIGNED TO MAKE THE CASE FOR THE USE OF
[00:18:49.533]FORCE RESOLUTION.
[00:18:50.300]SO I SPENT TWO WEEKS ON CAPITOL HILL MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE
[00:18:54.967]HOUSE SENATE AND THE STAFF.
[00:18:56.400]I CAN ATTEST THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS.
[00:18:58.900]CONGRESS TOOK ITS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY GATHERING INFORMATION,
[00:19:02.734]ASKING THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGING OUR ASSUMPTIONS.
[00:19:05.633]BUT IN THE END, CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR MILITARY
[00:19:09.066]ACTIONS PROVED UNNECESSARY.
[00:19:11.767]OUR CREDIBLE THREAT OF FORCE COMPELLED ASSAD TO BACK DOWN,
[00:19:17.000]GIVING A CHANCE FOR DIPLOMACY
[00:19:20.700]TO STEP IN.
[00:19:26.300]TODAY, REMARKABLY, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF ACHIEVING SOMETHING VERY
[00:19:30.066]SIGNIFICANT.
[00:19:31.200]SYRIA VOLUNTARILY GIVING UP ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO BE
[00:19:35.100]DESTROYED WITHOUT A SHOT FIRED.
[00:19:36.400]THERE'S STILL A WAY TO GO AND SYRIA STILL NEEDS TO LIVE UP TO
[00:19:40.233]ITS OBLIGATION.
[00:19:41.433]BUT A SYRIA WITHOUT CHEMICAL WEAPONS MAKES US ALL SAFER.
[00:19:47.767]THE DESTRUCTION PROCESS TO DESTROY THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
[00:19:53.000]REQUIRES A NAVY SHIP WITH A SYSTEM TO DESTROY THE CHEMICAL
[00:19:55.767]WEAPONS AT SEA.
[00:19:57.100]SO IN LIBYA WE SAW THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T HAVE TO GO IT
[00:20:00.567]ALONE.
[00:20:00.900]WE'RE MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN WE FOCUS ON WORKING WITH OTHERS AND
[00:20:05.700]USING OUR UNIQUE MILITARY CAPABILITIES.
[00:20:08.100]IN SYRIA WE SAW THAT MILITARY POWER CAN BE PART OF DIPLOMACY
[00:20:12.533]AND THE TRUE TEST OF INFLUENCE IS WHEN YOU CAN COMPEL ACTION
[00:20:16.567]WITHOUT FORCE BEING USED.
[00:20:19.266]IN CONCLUSION, WE ARE COMING OUT OF THE LONGEST PERIOD OF WAR IN
[00:20:24.467]AMERICAN HISTORY.
[00:20:25.700]IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR MILITARY SHOULD BE ONE OF
[00:20:28.734]MANY INSTRUMENTS OF OUR POWER.
[00:20:31.500]OUR DEFENSE SHOULD BE AGILE AND FLEXIBLE.
[00:20:39.000]THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS OF
[00:20:41.834]OUR POWER, OUR VALUES AND DEFENSE WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE
[00:20:45.233]OUR INTERESTS AND HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS.
[00:20:47.567]THIS IS WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON, MY FIRST BOSS
[00:20:52.734]CALLED USING SMART POWER AND SOMETHING MY CURRENT BOSS,
[00:20:56.633]SECRETARY HAGEL BELIEVES IN DEEPLY.
[00:20:58.867]AS PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS A FEW
[00:21:01.767]WEEKS AGO, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS DEFINED NOT
[00:21:05.867]JUST BY OUR DEFENSE AGAINST THREATS BY THE ENORMOUS
[00:21:12.433]OPPORTUNITIES -- TO EXPAND NEW MARKETS, TO FREE PEOPLE FROM
[00:21:15.834]FEAR AND FROM WANT.
[00:21:16.967]NO ONE IS BETTER POSITIONED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
[00:21:20.567]OPPORTUNITIES THAN AMERICA.
[00:21:22.200]THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[00:21:23.266]I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AND YOUR QUESTIONS.
[00:21:31.500][ APPLAUSE ] >> I WONDER IF I COULD BEGIN
[00:21:44.233]WITH A COMPLAINT.
[00:21:45.734][ LAUGHTER ] I'VE NEVER VISITED LINCOLN
[00:21:52.834]BEFORE TODAY.
[00:21:53.633]I'VE BEEN TO NEBRASKA I THINK ONCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE BEFORE
[00:21:58.333]TODAY.
[00:21:59.233]I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE FAIR I SHOULD BE PITTED AGAINST
[00:22:03.900]THE HOMETOWN HERO.
[00:22:05.900][ LAUGHTER ] I COULD TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT
[00:22:10.333]MY HOOSIER ROOTS.
[00:22:12.300][ LAUGHTER ] I'M JUST NOT SURE IT WOULD HAVE
[00:22:17.000]THE SAME IMPACT.
[00:22:19.533]SO I UNDERSTAND MY CHARTER TO BE, TO REFLECT ON THREE VERY
[00:22:26.667]SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR ISSUES RELATED TO BASIC U.S. NATIONAL
[00:22:31.800]SECURITY POLICY.
[00:22:32.800]TWO OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE SORT OF A RECENT VINTAGE.
[00:22:36.934]ONE IS QUITE A BIT OLDER.
[00:22:38.867]SO THE THREE THINGS I'M ULTIMATELY GOING TO CIRCLE
[00:22:41.867]AROUND TO TALK ABOUT.
[00:22:43.233]FIRST WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RELYING ON WHAT WE CALL THE
[00:22:46.266]ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE.
[00:22:48.667]MORE ACCURATELY, A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY.
[00:22:54.233]SECOND, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF WHETHER MAINTAINING A GLOBAL
[00:22:58.934]MILITARY PRESENCE WITH U.S.
[00:23:00.900]FORCES, U.S. BASES SCATTERED IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE
[00:23:05.200]WORLD, WHETHER THAT NOTION STILL IS JUSTIFIED, LONG AFTER THE END
[00:23:11.033]OF THE COLD WAR, WHICH WAS THE
[00:23:17.033]EVENT THAT CREATED THIS NOTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
[00:23:21.433]AND THEN THIRD WHAT ROLE IF ANY DOES THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL
[00:23:27.266]COMPLEX PLAY IN INFLUENCING NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY.
[00:23:31.166]I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST REFLECT, SORT OF FRAME MY ANSWERS TO THE
[00:23:34.767]NARROW QUESTIONS.
[00:23:36.367]I HAVE TO SAY THAT -- I SAT THERE LISTENING TO SECRETARY
[00:23:43.066]HAGEL'S LIST OF SIX PRIORITIES, WHICH OF COURSE PRESIDENT
[00:23:47.767]OBAMA'S DEFENSE OR SECURITY PRIORITIES, AND THERE'S NOTHING
[00:23:51.900]I WOULD OBJECT TO THEM
[00:23:55.066]WHEREVER -- ABOUT THEM.
[00:23:56.834]I THINK THE CUTS IN SECRETARY HAGEL'S OFFICE ARE GOING TO
[00:24:01.233]OCCUR OVER FIVE YEARS.
[00:24:02.667]BUT NONETHELESS, A DOWNSIZING OF HEADQUARTERS IS PROBABLY A
[00:24:11.233]GOOD IDEA.
[00:24:12.800]THE PROBLEM, I DO THINK THESE PROPOSED REFORMS CONSTITUTE A
[00:24:17.467]RECALIBRATION, AN ADJUSTMENT, WHEREAS MY POSITION WOULD BE BIG
[00:24:25.233]CHANGE IS NEEDED.
[00:24:26.800]AT LEAST BIG CHANGE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED.
[00:24:29.400]SO PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS.
[00:24:31.900]POINT 1.
[00:24:35.333]POWER CONFERS CHOICE.
[00:24:38.300]AT LEAST IT OUGHT TO.
[00:24:39.433]AND AS THE MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD, BLESSED WITH AN
[00:24:47.066]ASTONISHINGLY FAVORABLE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION, THE
[00:24:50.800]UNITED STATES ENJOYS, OR OUGHT TO ENJOY, CONSIDERABLE FREEDOM
[00:24:54.734]OF ACTION IN DECIDING HOW WE ARE GOING TO RELATE TO THE REST OF
[00:25:00.400]THE WORLD.
[00:25:01.600]I'D SAY ONE OF THE GREAT FAILURES OF POLICY MAKERS SINCE
[00:25:06.700]THE END OF THE COLD WAR.
[00:25:08.200]THIS IS NOT DIRECTED TO ANY PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION, BUT
[00:25:12.900]ONE OF THE GREATEST FAILURES IS THE FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE
[00:25:17.967]DO HAVE CHOICES AVAILABLE.
[00:25:21.066]AND THAT WE CAN EXERCISE CHOICES TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
[00:25:27.100]INSTEAD, POLICY MAKERS CLAIMING THAT WE ARE THE INDISPENSABLE
[00:25:33.834]NATION, YOU'VE HEARD THAT PHRASE.
[00:25:38.300]THAT WE HAVE INSISTED THERE REALLY IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO
[00:25:43.200]EXERCISE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP.
[00:25:45.900]AGAIN, A PHRASE THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH.
[00:25:49.500]SO IN THIS FRAMEWORK OF SEEING OURSELVES AS INDISPENSABLE OR
[00:25:53.333]BEING CALLED UPON TO EXERCISE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP FOR ALL
[00:25:59.000]PRACTICAL PURPOSES WE PRESS ON.
[00:26:01.233]WASHINGTON PRESSES ON.
[00:26:04.633]FOLLOWING A PARTICULAR -- TO MY MIND INSUFFICIENTLY SENSITIVE TO
[00:26:09.934]THE COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES ALONG THE WAY.
[00:26:12.133]SECOND LARGER POINT.
[00:26:14.567]HOW ARE WE TO EVALUATE THE EXERCISE OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP?
[00:26:21.367]WELL I DON'T WANT TO DISREGARD MORAL CONSIDERATIONS BECAUSE
[00:26:25.934]THEY OUGHT TO FIGURE ANY CONVERSATION WE HAVE ABOUT
[00:26:29.600]POLICY, BUT THAT SAID, IT SEEMS TO ME THE PRIMARY BASIS FOR
[00:26:35.533]EVALUATING POLICY MUST BE A PRAGMATIC ONE.
[00:26:39.066]DOES POLICY WORK.
[00:26:43.266]DOES IT PROVIDE A GOOD RETURN ON THE BLOOD AND THE TREASURE
[00:26:49.900]EXPENDED PURSUANT TO POLICY OBJECTIVES?
[00:26:53.133]FOR THE WHOLE POST-COLD WAR ERA, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN
[00:26:58.333]THREE DECADES NOW, THE BIG QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO
[00:27:03.200]CONFRONT OUR CITIZENS, ARE THE EXERTIONS OF OUR NATIONAL
[00:27:08.433]SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT MAKING US MORE SECURE AND MORE PROSPEROUS.
[00:27:13.867]IF THE ANSWER IS YES, IF WE ARE BECOMING MORE SECURE AND MORE
[00:27:20.633]PROSPEROUS, THEN WE OWE A DEPTH OF GRATITUDE TO OUR COLD WAR
[00:27:29.333]PRESIDENTS.
[00:27:29.734]BOTH PRESIDENTS, BUSH, CLINTON AND PRESIDENT OBAMA.
[00:27:34.700]AND WE SHOULD PRESS ON THE COURSE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING.
[00:27:37.600]IF THE ANSWER IS NO, HOWEVER, THEN IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S TIME
[00:27:42.266]FOR US TO RETHINK BASIC POLICY AND TO TRY TO EXERCISE THAT
[00:27:47.600]CHOICES -- THE CHOICES THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO A
[00:27:52.900]POWERFUL NATION.
[00:27:53.467]I HAVE TO TELL YOU MY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS MANIFESTLY NO,
[00:27:56.967]OUR POLICIES ARE NOT MAKING US MORE SECURE AND THEY ARE NOT
[00:28:00.867]MAKING US MORE PROSPEROUS AND THEY ARE COSTING US A LOT.
[00:28:05.400]NOW UNFORTUNATELY, I SAY THIS AS AN OUTSIDE OBSERVER, IT SEEMS TO
[00:28:11.567]ME THAT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT IS SO INVESTED IN
[00:28:19.834]THE STATUS QUO CARRIED OVER FROM THE COLD WAR THAT OUR LEADERS
[00:28:23.967]LACK THE CREATIVE CAPACITY TO PRODUCE OR EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE
[00:28:29.633]APPROACHES, AND SO WE BLUNDER ON.
[00:28:35.934]HERE'S THE ESSENCE OF POST-COLD WAR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY
[00:28:39.633]POLICY EXPRESSED IN ONE SINGLE SENTENCE.
[00:28:42.800]PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE JOINT USE OF
[00:28:47.333]MILITARY POWER, UNITED STATES CAN SHAPE THE INTERNATIONAL
[00:28:51.200]ORDER TO MAINTAIN U.S. GLOBAL SUPREMACY.
[00:28:56.667]THAT'S WHY TODAY,
[00:28:59.133]DESPITE THE BUDGET CUTS, THAT'S WHY THE
[00:29:06.834][ INDISCERNIBLE ] IS LARGER IN CONSTANT DOLLARS
[00:29:09.367]THAN ANYTIME IT WAS DURING THE COLD WAR.
[00:29:11.667]YOU REMEMBER THE COLD WAR?
[00:29:13.233]TWO SUPERPOWERS, WORLD WAR III ON THE HORIZON.
[00:29:18.000]THERE AIN'T NO OTHER SUPERPOWER TODAY.
[00:29:21.166]SO WE'RE SPENDING MORE TODAY IN CONSTANT DOLLARS THAN WE EVER
[00:29:25.600]DID IN THE 50s, 60s, 70s, OR 80s.
[00:29:29.133]THAT'S WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THAT'S WHY U.S. FORCES
[00:29:33.867]ARE CONSTANTLY PROWLING AROUND THE WORLD.
[00:29:37.233]I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE OFF BED, BUT I WROTE AN OFF BED THAT
[00:29:42.834]WAS QUITE FRANKLY MOCKING AN ARMY INITIATIVE CALLED PACIFIC
[00:29:49.967]PATHWAYS.
[00:29:50.333]NOW WE'RE COMING OUT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, I'LL STATE THIS
[00:29:54.533]CRUDELY, MY OWN SERVICE, OUT OF IRAQ, OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, THE
[00:29:58.033]ARMY'S LOOKING FOR A REASON TO JUSTIFY ITS EXISTENCE.
[00:30:01.600]IF YOU DON'T JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTENCE, YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY
[00:30:04.734]YOUR BUDGETARY CLAIM.
[00:30:06.233]IF YOU DON'T JUSTIFY YOUR BUDGETARY CLAIM, THEN YOUR
[00:30:09.400]STATUS STANDING INFLUENCE IN THE REALM OF NATIONAL SECURITY
[00:30:13.700]DECLINES.
[00:30:14.500]SO PACIFIC PATHWAYS IS AN ARMY PROPOSAL TO SORT OF HAVE
[00:30:22.400]SEPARATE BRIGADES WANDERING AROUND TO HELP.
[00:30:28.100]THAT'S WHY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DEVOTES THE VAST
[00:30:33.900]MAJORITY OF ITS EFFORTS TO PROJECTING MILITARY POWER HITHER
[00:30:42.467]HITHER.
[00:30:42.800]WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT 9/1, IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC
[00:30:47.400]FAILURE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT TO PERFORM ITS
[00:30:51.734]MOST ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.
[00:30:52.867]AND WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO THAT FAILURE?
[00:30:57.100]CREATE A NEW CABINET AND AGENCY THAT HAS THE JOB OF DEFENDING
[00:31:01.233]AMERICA CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SO THAT THE
[00:31:06.033]DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WHICH DOESN'T PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON
[00:31:10.533]DEFENSE, COULD CONTINUE TO PROTECT POWER AROUND THE WORLD.
[00:31:13.166]SO AGAIN THE CORE QUESTION IS, IS IT WORKING?
[00:31:17.400]PRACTICALLY SPEAKING.
[00:31:20.300]WELL, LET'S EXAMPLE THE RESULTS ACHIEVED SINCE THE END OF THE
[00:31:23.600]COLD WAR IN THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCAL
[00:31:26.800]POINT OF U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITY FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF A
[00:31:30.166]CENTURY NOW.
[00:31:33.967]ARE U.S. EFFORTS MAKING THE ISLAMIC WORLD MORE STABLE?
[00:31:42.600]ARE THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE QUARTERS, IRAQIS, AFGHANS,
[00:31:49.300]PAKISTANIS, SAUDIS, ARE THESE PEOPLE GETTING MORE FAVORABLY
[00:31:59.767]DISPOSED TOWARDS THE STATES OF AMERICA.
[00:32:02.333]THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE NO AND NO.
[00:32:05.900]ARE WARS IN THIS REGION, LARGE ONES LIKE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,
[00:32:10.867]BUT ALSO SMALLER PLACES LIKE SOMALIA, YEMEN AND LIBYA, WILL
[00:32:16.934]ULTIMATELY COST US, YOU ALREADY HEARD THIS, TRILLIONS OF
[00:32:20.567]DOLLARS.
[00:32:24.233]NOT BILLIONS WITH A B.
[00:32:27.834]TRILLIONS WITH A T.
[00:32:31.734]WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN?
[00:32:35.500]NOT MUCH, IN MY VIEW.
[00:32:39.400]YET POLITICAL AND MILITARY ELITE SEEM REMARKABLY RETICENT WHEN
[00:32:47.200]CONFRONTING THE YAWNING GAP BETWEEN EXPECTATIONS AND
[00:32:53.000]OUTCOMES.
[00:32:53.367]TO DO SO, TO CONFRONT THAT YAWNING GAP WOULD CALL INTO
[00:32:57.700]QUESTION THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISES UNDERLYING
[00:33:04.934]U.S. POLICY.
[00:33:06.166]AND DOING SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A STEP TOWARD IDENTIFYING
[00:33:10.867]STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES, DIFFERENT CHOICES, THAT A
[00:33:14.033]POWERFUL COUNTRY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IN PURSUIT OF ITS
[00:33:18.000]OWN INTEREST.
[00:33:18.834]SO BACK TO THOSE THREE ORIGINAL QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED TO
[00:33:23.967]REFLECT ON.
[00:33:24.333]FIRST WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RELYING ON A PROFESSIONAL
[00:33:28.333]MILITARY.
[00:33:30.834]WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING ABANDONED THE TRADITION
[00:33:36.333]OF THE CITIZEN SOLDIER WHICH WAS THE BASIS OF THE AMERICAN
[00:33:41.133]MILITARY SYSTEM, GOING BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF THIS REPUBLIC.
[00:33:46.900]WE ABANDONED THAT TRADITION IN THE WAKE OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
[00:33:50.700]I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPLICATION IS QUITE OBVIOUS.
[00:33:56.266]AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED A GAP TO DEVELOP BETWEEN THE
[00:34:00.967]MILITARY AND SOCIETY.
[00:34:03.033]YOU KNOW THE FIGURES.
[00:34:05.600]IN A COUNTRY THAT DOES SEEM TO BE PERPETUALLY AT WAR, 1% OF OUR
[00:34:12.766]FELLOW CITIZENS BEAR THE BURDEN OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE WHILE
[00:34:17.433]THE REMAINING 99% OF US ARE ESSENTIALLY SPECTATORS.
[00:34:21.567]THIS DISTRIBUTION OF EFFORT CANNOT BE SAID TO BE DEMOCRATIC.
[00:34:26.333]AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT CAN BE SAID TO BE
[00:34:32.333]MORAL.
[00:34:32.667]BUT AGAIN THE PRAGMATIC QUESTION IS THE ONE THAT COUNTS.
[00:34:36.333]DOES IT WORK, DOES THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE WORK?
[00:34:39.266]DOES RELYING ON A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY GIVE US THE RESULTS WE
[00:34:43.667]WANT?
[00:34:44.833]DOES OUR MILITARY WIN?
[00:34:48.833]THAT IS, DOES IT ACHIEVE CONCLUSIVE SUCCESS,
[00:34:54.766]ACCOMPLISHING OUR STATED POLITICAL OBJECTIVES.
[00:34:57.900]THAT'S WHAT WAR IS ALL ABOUT.
[00:35:00.667]USING WAR TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL PURPOSES.
[00:35:07.166]SADLY, THE
[00:54:18.867]WE COULD SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM WORTH JUST RUNNING A RISK OF NOT
[00:54:20.934]DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
[00:54:22.734]AND MAYBE SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES AND BE HELD
[00:54:25.433]ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE CONSEQUENCES.
[00:54:26.867]OR WE COULD DO SOMETHING.
[00:54:28.600]AND I THINK AS PROFESSOR BACEVICH JUST POINTED OUT, MANE
[00:54:33.433]TIMES IN -- THERE RISKS WITHIN ACTION.
[00:54:40.100]WE'LL TRY TO CALIBRATE THOSE RISKS.
[00:54:43.233]ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF DRONES, THE PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN TO
[00:54:48.567]THIS.
[00:54:48.867]I WOULD REALLY COMMEND ALL OF YOU TO READ A SPEECH HE GAVE AT
[00:54:53.400]THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY LAST MAY.
[00:54:56.500]HE SPOKE MORE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT OPENLY ABOUT THE USE
[00:54:59.500]OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IN WAR FARE.
[00:55:03.166]FIRST, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHO HAS
[00:55:06.333]DRONES.
[00:55:06.667]OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DEVELOPING THE CAPABILITY QUICKLY AND
[00:55:09.867]THEY'RE GOING TO PROLIFERATE AROUND THE WORLD.
[00:55:15.066]THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE ONLY POWER WITH CAPABLE DRONES,
[00:55:18.967]BUT OTHER COUNTRIES, SOME WHO MAY NOT WISH US WELL ALL THE
[00:55:25.700]TIME WILL HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY AS WELL.
[00:55:27.633]IT RAISES CERTAIN STRATEGIC QUESTIONS ON WHEN YOU USE
[00:55:31.300]DRONES.
[00:55:31.633]THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR, FIRST WHEN WE SEE A TERRORIST OR
[00:55:34.333]SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT WISH US WELL, OUR FIRST WISH OR DESIRE
[00:55:39.166]WOULD BE TO HANDLE THIS BY CAPTURING THIS PERSON AND
[00:55:43.133]ALTHOUGH THAT RUNS INCREDIBLE RISK TO OUR FORCES, IT COULD
[00:55:47.100]ALSO RUN INCREDIBLE RISK TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION MORE SO THAN
[00:55:51.533]DRONES.
[00:55:51.867]IF THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE, THEN THIS SORT OF TECHNOLOGY IS
[00:55:55.533]WHAT'S CONSIDERED.
[00:55:56.066]NOW THE PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
[00:55:58.967]HAVE PUT IN CERTAIN PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
[00:56:04.767]OVERSIGHT.
[00:56:05.133]TO ENSURE THAT CONGRESS IS INVOLVED AND THAT THE LEGAL
[00:56:08.066]AUTHORITIES ARE IN PLACE.
[00:56:09.066]WHEN WE DO THIS WE DO SO IN A WAY THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE
[00:56:14.567]IT RIGHT OR WE THINK THAT WE HAVE IT RIGHT.
[00:56:16.567]AND ALL THE RISKS ARE WEIGHED.
[00:56:18.600]BUT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
[00:56:20.100]ONE THING THAT THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR IN THE SPEECH HE LAID
[00:56:23.467]OUT LAST MAY IS THAT WE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE CONGRESS TO COME
[00:56:26.700]UP WITH A SYSTEM THAT'S BETTER AND WILL OUTLAST HIS PRESIDENCY.
[00:56:32.133]WE MAY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE SYSTEM PUT INTO PLACE WITH THIS
[00:56:36.000]ADMINISTRATION, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE -- THE PRESIDENT
[00:56:40.300]WITH WORKING WITH THE CONGRESS TO COME UP WITH A SYSTEM IN
[00:56:43.567]WHICH THIS TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE USED IN A WAY THAT WOULD GIVE
[00:56:48.433]CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE DOING SO RESPONSIBLY AND THOUGHTFULLY AS
[00:56:52.033]WE CAN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE GENUINE RISKS TO DOING SO.
[00:57:01.100]>> LET ME RETURN THAT TO AN ISSUE THAT EMERGED IN PROFESSOR
[00:57:06.567]BACEVICH'S OPENING REMARKS WHICH IS THE QUESTION OF THE ALL
[00:57:09.467]VOLUNTEER MILITARY FORCE IN THE UNITED STATES.
[00:57:12.000]ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TURNING POINTS CAME IN 1973 WITH
[00:57:15.633]THE CREATION OF THE AV -- OR THE AVM.
[00:57:20.066]I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO
[00:57:24.567]ADDRESS THIS.
[00:57:25.266]DO YOU THINK THAT DEFENDING THE NATION'S SECURITY SHOULD IN FACT
[00:57:28.300]BE AN EQUAL OBLIGATION OF ALL CITIZENS?
[00:57:32.867]AND WOULD A RENEWED MILITARY DRAFT AFFECT THE WAY OUR NATION
[00:57:36.667]MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT WAR AND PEACE.
[00:57:38.934]SUCH AS THE DECISION TO INVADE IRAQ IN 2003.
[00:57:45.934]>> SO FIRST I THINK WE AGREE ALL THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE IS ONE
[00:57:52.066]OF THE REASONS WHY OUR MILITARY IS AS CAPABLE AS IT IS, IT HAS
[00:57:56.266]SUCH HIGH STANDARDS.
[00:57:57.834]WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE MILITARY LIVES TO THE HIGHEST
[00:58:01.000]STANDARDS POSSIBLE, BEYOND EVEN COMMON CITIZENS.
[00:58:04.767]THERE ARE HIGH EXPECTATIONS ON OUR MILITARY AND IT'S THE BEST
[00:58:08.600]TRAINED ASK MOST CAPABLE FORCE IN THE WORLD.
[00:58:10.767]AND PART OF 23459 IS THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR MILITARY.
[00:58:17.600]WHERE ARE -- ONE OF MY MESSAGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE IS THAT PUBLIC
[00:58:38.767]SERVICE IS A GREAT THING.
[00:58:40.066]IT DOESN'T MEAN JUST SERVING IN THE MILITARY, COULD MEAN SERVING
[00:58:43.600]IN A COMMUNITY A CHURCH, SERVING GOVERNMENT IN SOME OTHER
[00:58:48.367]CAPACITY.
[00:58:48.734]WE OWN THIS COUNTRY AND WE SHOULD FEEL INVESTED IN IT.
[00:58:52.400]BUT I DON'T THINK THE CAUSALITY BETWEEN THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE
[00:58:55.400]AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO USE FORCE AROUND THE WORLD REALLY WORKS.
[00:59:01.734]I THINK THAT -- I DON'T SEE THE PRESIDENT OR THE SECRETARY OF
[00:59:05.300]DEFENSE OR THE JOINT CHIEFS LESS ANGUISHED ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE
[00:59:09.300]AND THE POTENTIAL USE OF FORCE BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE MILITARY
[00:59:15.200]HAPPENS TO BE A VOLUNTEER.
[00:59:16.500]THE DECISIONS WEIGH HEAVILY ON OUR LEADERS AND I DON'T KNOW
[00:59:20.700]THAT IT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IF THERE WAS A DRAFT,
[00:59:23.500]AND I THINK PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE WE'VE GONE
[00:59:27.700]THROUGH POST-9/11 IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WHERE WE HAD SO MANY
[00:59:32.467]VETERANS PRODUCED OUT OF THOSE WARS, THE NATIONAL GUARD OF
[00:59:37.166]RESERVES HAS BEEN USED IN SO MANY WAYS THAT MANY DIDN'T THINK
[00:59:42.000]THEY WERE GOING TO BE USED IN TERMS OF COMBAT DEPLOYMENT THAT
[00:59:46.834]THE CONGRESS FELT THE COST OF THE WARS, YOU FELT THE COST OF
[00:59:52.500]THOSE WARS.
[00:59:53.166]I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT WHAT WE WOULD GIVE UP IN HAVING A DRAFT
[00:59:57.000]AND GETTING RID OF THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE WOULD MAKE MUCH
[01:00:01.166]OF A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUESTION OF USING THE MILITARY ABROAD.
[01:00:08.667]>> IT'S A TOUGH CALL.
[01:00:09.367]BUT THE COUNTRY ARGUMENT IS THAT IF A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THE
[01:00:20.033]POPULATION FELT IT HAD SKIN IN THE GAME, THAT NOT NECESSARILY
[01:00:25.533]CHANGED THE TEMPER OF THE DISCUSSION IN THE OVAL OFFICE
[01:00:28.934]ABOUT WHETHER TO GO TO WAR, BUT IT MIGHT ANIMATE THE PUBLIC A
[01:00:34.834]LITTLE BIT MORE TO PAY ATTENTION.
[01:00:40.400]AND THAT COULD HAVE -- THE FACT THAT AT THE TIME OF THE INVASION
[01:00:47.000]OF IRAQ AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PUT TOGETHER, ONE MEMBER
[01:00:50.834]OF CONGRESS WHO HAD A CHILD SERVING AS AN ENLISTED SOLDIER.
[01:00:55.600]ONE.
[01:00:57.800]SO THAT THE HUNDRED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THAT WOULD CHILDREN AS
[01:01:00.967]YOUNG ENLISTED SOLDIERS.
[01:01:03.633]MEANING THOSE WHO WERE GOING TO BE THE MOST VULNERABLE.
[01:01:06.967]WOULD THAT HAVE CHANGED THE TENOR OF THE CONVERSATION.
[01:01:09.867]HARD TO SAY FOR SURE.
[01:01:11.567]BUT MY ARGUMENT, WHICH BY THE WAY IS NOT AN ARGUMENT FOR THE
[01:01:16.867]DRAFT.
[01:01:17.166]I THINK THAT RATHER THAN CONSIDERING THE RESTORATION OF
[01:01:21.233]THE DRAFT, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE CREATION OF A
[01:01:23.734]PROGRAM OF NATIONAL SERVICE, WHICH WOULD BRING ABOUT THIS
[01:01:28.533]CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SINCE ITS CIVIC OBLIGATION WHERE MILITARY
[01:01:33.467]SERVICE WOULD BE ONE OPTION AMONG MANY.
[01:01:35.133]SO NOT DRAFT, NATIONAL SERVICE.
[01:01:37.567]BUT THE OTHER ARGUMENT HERE I THINK IS -- HAS TO DO WITH --
[01:01:47.467]THAT THE NATION WAGED WARS MORE EFFECTIVELY WHEN THEY ARE FOUGHT
[01:01:55.600]WITH A CITIZEN ARMY.
[01:01:57.867]AND HERE I THINK THE COMPARISON IS -- LET'S MAKE THE COMPARISON
[01:02:04.900]WITH THE CIVIL WAR.
[01:02:07.467]YOU REMEMBER BACK IN 1861 -- YOU DON'T REMEMBER, YOU REMEMBER THE
[01:02:12.066]STORY.
[01:02:12.400][ LAUGHTER ] BOTH SIDES WERE PERSUADED IT WAS
[01:02:16.266]GOING A SHORT WAR.
[01:02:17.066]THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMY, THEY'RE GOING TO TROT OUT INTO
[01:02:21.567]VIRGINIA AND BEAT EACH OTHER UP OVER THE COURSE OF AN AFTERNOON,
[01:02:24.867]AND THEN ONE SIDE WOULD QUIT.
[01:02:30.867]CHIEF INDEPENDENCE OR THE UNION WOULD BE RESTORED.
[01:02:33.633]THAT WOULD BE A VERY NAIVE EXPECTATION.
[01:02:36.867]LONG WAR.
[01:02:37.433]MANY BATTLES.
[01:02:40.233]FLOODING.
[01:02:40.633]BECAUSE ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD A CITIZEN ARMY.
[01:02:52.000]HE TURNED TO THE COUNTRY AFTER FIRST -- AND SAID NEED A BIGGER
[01:02:58.934]ARMY.
[01:02:59.333]AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED BY CREATING A
[01:03:05.266]CITIZEN ARMY THAT BY 1865 SOMEBODY IN HERE WILL KNOW THE
[01:03:11.266]NUMBER BETTER THAN I WILL, NUMBERED MORE THAN A MILLION MEN
[01:03:15.367]UNDER ARMS.
[01:03:16.066]IT TOOK TWO DAYS FOR THE UNION ARMY TO PARADE PAST THE WHITE
[01:03:20.200]HOUSE IN THE VICTORY PARADE.
[01:03:31.166]WHERE PEOPLE COULD SAY IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE CITIZENS HAVE AN
[01:03:35.367]OBLIGATION TO SERVE, I HAVE YOUR SERVICE.
[01:03:37.767]BUT PRESIDENT BUSH BACK IN 2003, ALSO MISCALCULATED.
[01:03:40.667]HE THOUGHT THAT KNOCKING OVER SADAM HUSSEIN WAS GOING TO BE A
[01:03:47.467]RELATIVELY EASY TASK AND ONE WE GOT TO BAGHDAD WE WOULD DECLARE
[01:03:51.734]VICTORY AND EVERYONE WOULD GO HOME AND IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL
[01:03:54.834]THING.
[01:03:55.133]WE GOT TO BAGHDAD AND WE FOUND OURSELVES IN A HUGE MESS.
[01:03:59.367]WHERE WE NO LONGER HAD CITIZENS INVESTED IN THE NOTION OF
[01:04:05.000]MILITARY SERVICE.
[01:04:06.500]PRESIDENT BUSH DIDN'T HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING TO THE COUNTRY
[01:04:09.200]AND SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO NEED A MILLION MAN ARMY
[01:04:13.300]TO CORRECTLY OCCUPY AND PACIFY IRAQ.
[01:04:18.200]BECAUSE IT WASN'T OUR WAR.
[01:04:19.266]SO WHAT DID HE DO?
[01:04:21.200]WELL HE WENT TO THE ALLIES AND THE ALLIES SAID, WELL WE'LL GIVE
[01:04:25.834]YOU SIX OF THESE AND SEVEN OF THOSE, BUT NOT REALLY A
[01:04:31.066]SIGNIFICANT ADDITION TO U.S.
[01:04:32.567]FORCES, SO WHAT DID HE DO?
[01:04:35.367]HE HIRED CONTRACTORS.
[01:04:36.767]HE HIRED MERCENARIES.
[01:04:41.734]PEOPLE AT EXORBITANT COSTS WHO WERE ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITIES
[01:04:47.533]THAT IN ANY PREVIOUS WARS WOULD HAVE BEEN FULFILLED BY CITIZEN
[01:04:53.834]SOLDIERS.
[01:04:54.200]MAYBE THE JURY IS OUT A LITTLE BIT BUT MY VIEW IS IT COST A
[01:04:57.834]HECK OF A LOT AND DIDN'T GET THE JOB DONE.
[01:05:00.700]SO THE ARGUMENT FOR RESTORING THE TRADITION OF THE CITIZEN
[01:05:04.767]SOLDIER IS IN PART AN ARGUMENT BASED ON MAYBE THE COUNTRY PAID
[01:05:09.767]MORE ATTENTION BEFORE I DASHED OFF IN SOME CAULK NANNY WAR, BUT
[01:05:14.600]IT'S ALSO AN ARGUMENT THAT SAYS WHEN WE DO FIND OURSELVES IN THE
[01:05:18.200]WAR WE'LL HAVE A MILITARY SYSTEM THAT HAS GREATER ELASTICITY, AND
[01:05:24.100]THERE GIVE US A BETTER CHANCE OF CONCLUDING THE WAR ON FAVORABLE
[01:05:28.400]TERMS, WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE OBJECT OF THE
[01:05:32.166]EXERCISE.
[01:05:32.533]>> THIS IS THE TIME OF EVENING WHERE WE BRING MORE VOICES IN,
[01:05:35.700]WHEN THE USHERS BEGIN TO HAND OUT NOTE CARDS TO THE AUDIENCE.
[01:05:41.800]AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO WRITE A QUESTION ON THE CARD AND SEND IT
[01:05:46.967]DOWN TO THE END OF THE ROW WHERE USHERS WILL COLLECT THEM AND
[01:05:50.667]THEY'LL COME FLOATING BACK UP VIA UNKNOWN PROCESSES TO ME --
[01:05:55.834][ LAUGHTER ] AND I'LL BE DELIGHTED TO SELECT
[01:05:58.967]A FEW OF THEM OUT THERE OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS.
[01:06:02.600]WHILE THE USHERS ARE AT WORK, AND THANK YOU, USHERS, I DO WANT
[01:06:07.533]TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.
[01:06:08.900]THAT IS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH
[01:06:12.533]AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE.
[01:06:14.500]THE AMERICAN POPULOUS IN GENERAL.
[01:06:16.533]DO YOU THINK THAT MOST AMERICAN CIVILIANS UNDERSTAND AND
[01:06:19.433]APPRECIATE WHAT AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL DO IN THEIR
[01:06:25.200]JOBS.
[01:06:25.500]AND ARE THERE WAYS IN WHICH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ARMED
[01:06:28.900]FORCES AND CIVILIAN SOCIETY SHOULD BE IMPROVED.
[01:06:38.333]THIS IS BASICALLY THE TOPIC OF THE BOOK THAT I'M GOING TO TRY
[01:06:41.700]TO GET YOU TO BUY WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE.
[01:06:44.433][ LAUGHTER ] HE DIDN'T PAY ME TO ASK THIS
[01:06:48.100]QUESTION, I PROMISE.
[01:06:51.400]AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GROWING AWARENESS THAT THERE'S
[01:06:57.700]SOMETHING NOT RIGHT IN THE CLAIMS MADE BY AMERICANS THAT WE
[01:07:06.934]SUPPORT THE TROOPS.
[01:07:14.066]THAT PHRASE THAT HAS BECOME SO COMMONPLACE, I THINK IN OUR
[01:07:21.400]DISCOURSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[01:07:28.500]IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
[01:07:33.767]IT'S TOO EASY.
[01:07:35.033]IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF -- MANY OF YOU KNOW OF -- YOU DIDN'T KNOW
[01:07:46.300]BONHOEFFER, THE GERMAN MARTYR AND THEOLOGIAN WHO IN THE '30s,
[01:07:51.500]AFTER HITLER CAME TO POWER IN GERMANY, BASICALLY LED A
[01:07:58.200]MOVEMENT TO BREAK AWAY FROM ORTHODOX PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN
[01:08:06.700]ESTABLISHMENT, PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN GERMANY TO
[01:08:11.233]FOUND WHAT HE CALLED A CONFESSING CHURCH.
[01:08:14.734]AND HIS CRITIQUE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT CHURCH WAS THAT IT
[01:08:19.667]HAD ALLOWED ITSELF TO BE COMPROMISED BY COLLABORATING
[01:08:24.834]WITH THE NAZIS, WHILE STILL CONGRATULATING THEMSELVES FOR
[01:08:31.700]BEING FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
[01:08:36.500]AND BONHOEFFER SAID THAT'S WHAT HE CALLED "CHEAP GRACE."
[01:08:42.667]THIS BEING TOO QUICK TO PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK WHEN IT'S
[01:08:47.200]UTTERLY UNDESERVED, WHEN IN FACT YOU OUGHT TO BE EXAMINING YOUR
[01:08:51.399]CONSCIENCE.
[01:08:59.166]I THINK THESE SUPERFICIAL EXPRESSIONS OF AFFECTION FOR THE
[01:09:02.834]TROOPS, THE BUDWEISER COMMERCIAL DURING THE SUPER BOWL.
[01:09:10.066]I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF CHEAP GRADES.
[01:09:17.033]THAT IF INDEED WE SUPPORT AND CARE ABOUT THE TROOPS, THEN THAT
[01:09:21.934]SHOULD IMPOSE OBLIGATIONS THAT GO WELL BEYOND CHEERING OR
[01:09:26.066]BUYING BEER.
[01:09:31.133]AND THAT TO SOME DEGREE WE OUGHT TO BE EXAMINING OUR CONSCIENCES
[01:09:35.966]ABOUT HOW, IN MY VIEW AT LEAST, WE'VE ALLOWED THE TROOPS TO BE
[01:09:41.734]ABUSED AND MISUSED AND WE OUGHT TO FEEL PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE
[01:09:48.466]ABOUT THAT.
[01:09:49.166]THANK YOU.
[01:09:50.133][ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL I'VE READ
[01:09:59.900]ANDREW'S MOST RECENT BOOK.
[01:10:01.133]IT IS A TERRIFIC BOOK.
[01:10:02.133]MY BOOKS ARE FAR LESS INTERESTING, SO I'M NOT GOING TO
[01:10:07.300]EVEN MAKE A CASE FOR YOU TO BUY IT.
[01:10:11.133]BUT ON THIS CASE I HAVE TO SAY I'M A BIT TORN.
[01:10:15.600]ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PARTS OF YOUR BOOK IS WHEN YOU TALK
[01:10:20.900]ABOUT A RED SOX WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE AT ALL OF OUR
[01:10:27.266]GAMES, THE AFFECTION FOR THE TROOPS.
[01:10:30.600]I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING, IT COMES OUT OF A LEGACY, A BAD
[01:10:34.767]LEGACY OF OURS WHICH IS WHERE WE DIDN'T TREAT TROOPS THE WAY THEY
[01:10:37.600]SHOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED AFTER
[01:10:40.700]THEY SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
[01:10:43.133]IT'S A REMINDER TO ALL OF US WE SHOULD HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED
[01:10:46.367]AND RESPECT THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE SACRIFICES THEY AND THE
[01:10:50.066]FAMILIES HAVE MADE FOR YOU.
[01:10:51.133]FOR US.
[01:10:51.867]THAT'S A GOOD THING.
[01:10:52.734]BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
[01:10:53.767]I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH TO SAY I DID
[01:10:56.700]MY OBLIGATION, I CHEERED FOR SOME FOLKS WHO JUST RETURNED
[01:11:01.000]FROM AFGHANISTAN, SOME WOUNDED WARRIORS MAYBE AND I CLAPPED AND
[01:11:04.667]THAT'S ALL I NEED TO DO AND GOOD ON MY FOR GIVING THEM A NICE
[01:11:08.200]CHEER.
[01:11:08.500]YOU'VE GOT TO DO MORE THAN THAT.
[01:11:10.100]ONE THING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO AS A GOVERNMENT WORKING WITH
[01:11:13.500]THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO CAME
[01:11:19.300]BACK FROM SERVICE.
[01:11:22.200]MRS. OBAMA TALKED ABOUT AN INITIATIVE THAT SHE AND JOE
[01:11:27.200]BIDEN HAVE STARTED TO HELP HIRE 100,000 VETERANS FROM
[01:11:34.567]AFGHANISTAN TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES.
[01:11:36.300]THEIR ASPIRATION IS TO HIRE THAT MANY IN FIVE YEARS.
[01:11:39.767]THAT'S SOMETHING WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD SUPPORT.
[01:11:50.900]IT'S A SIGN OF RESPECT, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH, IT SHOULDN'T BE A
[01:11:54.367]SUBSTITUTE AT ALL.
[01:11:57.166]>> SO THIS IS FOR, INITIALLY FOR THE SECRETARY.
[01:12:02.333]HAVE WE ADVOCATED OUR POSITION OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TO RUSSIA.
[01:12:06.166]AND AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS SYRIA.
[01:12:16.300]>> RUSSIA IS CLEARLY PLAYING A ROLL IN SYRIA.
[01:12:20.900]IN OUR VIEW IT'S A NEGATIVE ROLE IN APPLYING AN ASSAD REGIME.
[01:12:29.200]I DON'T THINK THE U.S. HAS ADVOCATED ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR
[01:12:34.000]LEADERSHIP.
[01:12:34.400]I THINK SOMETIMES THOSE WHO MEASURE IT IS MEASURING IT ONLY
[01:12:38.300]THROUGH THE MILITARY INSTRUMENT.
[01:12:40.200]IF WE'RE NOT USING FORCE OR BOMBING SOMETHING, OR WE'RE NEWT
[01:12:44.800]LEADING OR TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, WHEN IN FACT IN
[01:12:47.867]SYRIA WE'RE MAKING THE JUDGMENT OF THE APPLICATION OF MILITARY
[01:12:52.066]POWER WOULDN'T MAKE THAT ANY BETTER.
[01:12:54.500]IT'S ALREADY TERRIBLE ENOUGH AS IT IS.
[01:12:56.166]THE U.S. POWER IS BETTER USED TO SUPPORT THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS,
[01:13:02.100]OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES THAT ARE BORDERING SYRIA AND DEALING
[01:13:06.800]WITH THE CONSEQUENCES AND INSTABILITY.
[01:13:09.266]AND BY SUPPORTING AND TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THE MODERATE
[01:13:15.667]OPERATIONS.
[01:13:16.400]TODAY THEY -- RETURNED TO SYRIA TO TRY TO HAVE A DIPLOMATIC
[01:13:24.266]SOLUTION TO THIS.
[01:13:25.967]THAT'S ONLY HAPPENING THROUGH OUR U.S. DIPLOMATS, SECRETARY
[01:13:34.467]KERRY AND HIS TEAM HAS MOVED OUT WITH DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.
[01:13:39.800]THAT'S USING DIFFERENT -- IT'S LEADERSHIP NONETHELESS.
[01:14:05.967]>> THEY HAVE THEIR STOCK OF
[01:14:10.700]RESENTMENTS I THINK CARRIED OVER FROM THE WAY THE COLD
[01:14:14.500]WAR ENDED.
[01:14:14.800]IN SOME WAYS -- IF ONE WERE TO THINK ABOUT WHICH COUNTRIES WE
[01:14:23.667]SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 40 OR 50
[01:14:31.033]YEARS, I DON'T THINK RUSSIA IS GOING TO BE IN THE TOP TIER.
[01:14:36.166]SO I WOULDN'T OVERSTATE THE RUSSIA PROBLEM.
[01:14:39.367]>> COULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS RECENT CHEATING SCANDALS IN THE
[01:14:45.166]NUCLEAR MISSILE SILOS AND AT OTHER BRANCHES OF THE ARMED
[01:14:50.266]SERVICES.
[01:14:50.667]>> I'LL TAKE THE FIRST SHOT AT THAT.
[01:14:53.333]LIKE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT SECRETARY
[01:14:56.567]HAGEL HAS BEEN SEIZED WITH RECENTLY AND HE JUST SPOKE TO
[01:15:00.200]CHAIRMAN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEF SPOKE TO THIS ON
[01:15:04.400]FRIDAY.
[01:15:04.734]THESE CHEATING SCANDALS AND THE SORT OF OTHER PERSONNEL SCANDALS
[01:15:10.300]ASSOCIATE WOULD THE MILITARY HAVE BEEN A HUGE CONCERN FOR THE
[01:15:13.500]DEPARTMENT.
[01:15:13.900]AND THERE'S VARIOUS MEASURES THAT SECRETARY HAGEL IS PUTTING
[01:15:18.300]IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS INCLUDING
[01:15:23.500]A FLAG OFFICIAL, THREE STAR GENERAL TO WORK IN HIS OFFICE TO
[01:15:26.467]REPORT TO HIM DIRECTLY ON THESE ISSUES DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
[01:15:30.233]SO IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT'S ONE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO
[01:15:33.667]THE BOTTOM OF AND ONE WE'VE GOT TO SEEK TO MITIGATE.
[01:15:37.967]THAT SAID AND THE SECRETARY HAS BEEN EQUALLY ADAMANT ON THIS
[01:15:41.467]POINT IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THESE SCANDALS TO SORT OF PAINT
[01:15:45.367]TOO BROAD OF A BRUSH ABOUT -- IN THE AIR FORCE'S CASE, ON MISSILE
[01:15:50.667]EARS, BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR
[01:15:55.266]JOB.
[01:15:55.533]THEY'RE DOING IT VERY WELL.
[01:15:57.066]THEY ARE PATRIOTS.
[01:15:58.934]THEY ARE PEOPLE YOU ARE SACRIFICING FOR US AND
[01:16:02.100]OFTENTIMES, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE MISSILE WORLD, OFTEN LARGELY
[01:16:06.600]FORGOTTEN BY US BECAUSE THE COLD WAR IS GOING TO BE OVER AND MANY
[01:16:10.000]PEOPLE FORGET THAT WE HAVE MEN AND WOMEN SITTING IN SILOS ON
[01:16:14.800]12-HOUR SHIFTS PREPARING TO DEFEND US IF NECESSARY.
[01:16:17.800]SO JUST TEN DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS FLYING BACK FROM EUROPE,
[01:16:22.900]SECRETARY HAGEL HE MADE SOME PHONE CALLS TO FOLKS THAT WERE
[01:16:27.500]MANNING THE MISSILE SILOS THAT DAY AND JUST TO LET THEM KNOW HE
[01:16:31.433]WAS THINKING ABOUT THEM, AND ALSO ABOUT, TO FIND OUT HOW THEY
[01:16:41.100]ARE BEING AFFECTED BY ALL THE STORIES AND THE SCANDALS.
[01:16:45.400]>> I THINK THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS THAT CONSIST OF
[01:16:46.900]HUMAN BEINGS AND HUMAN BEINGS ARE FALLIBLE.
[01:16:53.867]TO SOME DEGREE ONE SHOULD NOT OVERREACT.
[01:16:58.367]THERE ARE A CLUSTER OF THESE THINGS HAPPENING NOW THAT MAKES
[01:17:01.700]IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DISTURBING AND CAPTURES MORE PUBLIC
[01:17:06.734]ATTENTION.
[01:17:08.800]BUT I THINK SECRETARY HAGEL OR GENERAL DEMPSEY, I THINK I WOULD
[01:17:20.934]WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REALM OF SENIOR
[01:17:25.734]LEADERSHIP.
[01:17:26.133]IF WE HAVE CHEATING SCANDALS, CORRUPTION SCANDALS, THEN FLAG
[01:17:33.300]OFFICERS ARE FAILING IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTABLISH --
[01:17:39.500]THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY, COMPLETELY PREVENT THESE THINGS
[01:17:43.100]FROM HAPPENING BUT WOULD CERTAINLY ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
[01:17:47.500]RARE.
[01:17:47.800]WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR SENIOR UNIFORM LEADERSHIP.
[01:17:51.066]TO WHAT DEGREE HAVE THE STRESSES AND STRAINS OF THE PAST DECADE
[01:18:00.066]CAUSED A PERMANENT WAR, AFFECTED THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP.
[01:18:03.367]HAS IT LED TO COMPROMISING STANDARDS?
[01:18:08.500]HAS IT LED TO SELECTING PEOPLE FOR PROMOTION WHO SHOULD NOT
[01:18:12.834]HAVE BEEN PROMOTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
[01:18:15.033]HAS IT LED TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH
[01:18:17.633]GOING ON AND TOO MANY PEOPLE GOING IN TOO MANY PLACES THAT
[01:18:20.834]HAS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION?
[01:18:22.867]I THINK THAT -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
[01:18:28.300]BUT AT THAT LEVEL, THAT I WOULD SEEK A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
[01:18:32.166]THESE ARE NOT ISSUES THAT A SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OUGHT TO
[01:18:35.367]HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
[01:18:37.767]BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO STARS, THREE STAR, FOUR STAR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
[01:18:44.900]TO BE SETTING AND MAINTAINING THE KIND OF PROFESSIONAL
[01:18:48.700]STANDARDS THAT WE EXPECT.
[01:18:53.166]>> WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE
[01:18:56.400]PROLIFERATION OF AL-QAIDA AND AL-QAIDA ASSOCIATED
[01:19:00.166]GROUPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN AFRICA, IF NOT THE USE OF OUR
[01:19:06.533]MILITARY FORCES?
[01:19:09.834]>> WELL YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW A LOT MORE THAN I DO, BUT I'LL
[01:19:14.033]WEIGH IN ON THE STRAW MAN.
[01:19:16.600][ LAUGHTER ] I THINK SERIOUSLY, THAT
[01:19:23.533]AL-QAIDA HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY DEPLETED OVER THE COURSE OF THE
[01:19:26.333]PAST DECADE.
[01:19:29.166]NOW WE'VE GOT THESE FRANCHISES, SO CALLED.
[01:19:37.767]NOT A LITTLE BIT RELUCTANT TO SEE THEM AS AN EXISTENTIAL
[01:19:47.233][ INDISCERNIBLE ] TO THE UNITED STATES.
[01:19:51.734]EXTENT OF THE THREAT, NOT DISREGARD THE THREAT, BUT THIS
[01:19:54.333]IS NOT THE SOVIET UNION WITH ICBMs.
[01:20:03.400]BUT BEYOND THAT, I THINK THERE ARE VERY DIFFICULT POLITICAL
[01:20:10.200]INSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS THAT DON'T GET THE KIND OF ATTENTION
[01:20:20.600]THEY DESERVE.
[01:20:21.500]WHY DO THESE PEOPLE HATE US AND WANT TO KILL US?
[01:20:25.133]BIG QUESTION, LOTS OF ANSWERS.
[01:20:27.367]I THINK ONE VERY IMPORTANT ANSWER, WHICH I SUBSCRIBE IS
[01:20:31.500]THAT THERE IS A BROADER CRISIS IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD.
[01:20:38.233]AND THAT THE ESSENCE OF THAT CRISIS IS FINDING WAYS TO
[01:20:43.633]RECONCILE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WITH MODERATES.
[01:20:52.133]SOMETHING WE DID MORE OR LESS AS A RESULT OF ENLIGHTENMENT, WHICH
[01:20:57.567]RESULTED IN, VERY BROADLY SPEAKING, THE PRIVATIZATION OF
[01:21:03.500]RELIGION.
[01:21:03.900]AND IT'S EXCLUSION EXCEPT FOR SYMBOLIC PURPOSES, FROM THE
[01:21:11.800]PUBLIC'S FEAR.
[01:21:14.200]WHAT I KNOW OF ISLAM SUGGESTS THAT THAT PROCESS OF
[01:21:19.200]RECONCILIATION IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT GIVEN THAT RELIGIOUS
[01:21:23.800]TRADITION IN COMPARISON FOR THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION WHICH IS THE
[01:21:29.200]PREDOMINANT ONE OF THE WEST.
[01:21:30.600]AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHERE THE ANSWER LIES.
[01:21:33.266]AND THERE I THINK THE QUESTION IS, WELL WHAT CAN WE DO TO
[01:21:39.767]FURTHER THAT PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION.
[01:21:43.400]I THINK ONE THING WE OUGHT TO HAVE LEARNED IS HAVING A BUNCH
[01:21:49.633]OF U.S. TROOPS BUMBLING AROUND DOES NOT HELP THAT PROCESS.
[01:21:54.767]THAT WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS TO -- IT EXACERBATES THE
[01:22:03.200]CONFLICT AND WE PRESENT OURSELVES AS CONVENIENT TARGETS.
[01:22:07.867]SO STRATEGICALLY, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY -- DON'T EXACTLY HOW
[01:22:12.734]EXACTLY I WOULD IMPLEMENT IN SPECIFIC TERMS.
[01:22:16.100]IT SEEMS TO ME WHAT WE HAVE AN INTEREST IS
[01:22:23.033]GETTING OUT OF THE WAY WHILE THEY SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS AND IN
[01:22:27.700]THE MEANTIME TRYING TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM ANY ADVERSE
[01:22:31.567]EFFECTS AS THEY HAVE THIS GREAT INTRA-CIVILIZATIONAL ARGUMENT.
[01:22:40.767]WHICH AGAIN TO MY MIND MEANS LOWER OUR MILITARY PROFILE.
[01:22:57.000]>> THE UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE SOCIAL, THEY'RE ECONOMIC,
[01:23:00.333]THEY'RE SOCIAL RELIGIOUS.
[01:23:02.233]THEY'RE DIFFICULT FOR ANY
[01:23:07.433]COUNTRY OR COMBINATION OF COUNTRIES TO TACKLE.
[01:23:11.367]ONE THING WE WERE GETTING OUT OF IRAQ IS WE WEREN'T CONTRIBUTING
[01:23:15.467]TO A POSITIVE OUTCOME BY STAYING THERE.
[01:23:17.800]WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IRAQ IS QUITE VIOLENT, IT'S QUITE UGLY,
[01:23:21.934]BUT WE'RE NOT PART OF IT RIGHT NOW.
[01:23:23.967]I THINK THAT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
[01:23:25.900]THERE ARE MANY SORT OF FRANCHISES OR NON FRANCHISES, BUT
[01:23:32.700]THERE'S STILL TERRORIST AFFILIATES.
[01:23:35.500]A FRIEND OF MINE CALLS THIS THE BURGER QUEEN SYNDROME.
[01:23:38.667]WHAT THAT MEANS IS IN CAIRO, THEY DIDN'T HAVE
[01:23:44.300]BURGER KINGS, THEY HAD BURGER QUEENS.
[01:23:49.100]IT WAS NOT PART OF THE FRANCHISE, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE
[01:23:52.867]IT.
[01:23:53.266]BUT WHAT WE HAVE POPPING UP IN TOO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE
[01:23:57.900]TOO MANY BURGER QUEENS.
[01:23:59.300]THEY LOOK LIKE AL-QAIDA, THEY'RE CERTAINLY ISLAMIC
[01:24:03.900]TERRORISTS, BUT THEY ARE A THREAT TO THE
[01:24:08.233]UNITED STATES.
[01:24:08.567]THEY COULD BE A THREAT TO AN EMBASSY OR OIL FACILITY
[01:24:12.533]SOMEWHERE.
[01:24:12.934]THEY'RE NOT TEN FEET TALL AND WE SHOULDN'T MAKE THEM TEN FEET
[01:24:17.734]CALL, BUT THEY ARE A CONCERN.
[01:24:19.033]AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THE MOST TO PROTECT OUR
[01:24:22.734]DIPLOMATS AND PROTECT OUR ALLIES AGAINST THESE THREATS.
[01:24:26.066]BUT USING THE MILITARY INSTRUMENT ALONE TO TRY TO SOLVE
[01:24:30.400]THEM IS NOT GOING TO GET IT DONE.
[01:24:32.567]WE NEED TO DO IT IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER THINGS.
[01:24:35.300]IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
[01:24:37.734]TAKE EGYPT FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE WE HAVE A CLOSE POLITICAL
[01:24:42.300]RELATIONSHIP.
[01:24:42.734]THE UNITED STATES IS NOT OCCUPYING EGYPT RIGHT NOW, BUT
[01:24:46.400]NEVERTHELESS EGYPT IS UNDERGOING A DRAMATIC HISTORIC
[01:24:50.800]TRANSFORMATION.
[01:24:51.533]I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO END UP.
[01:24:54.533]WE HAVE A HUGE POLITICAL STAKE, WE HAVE A HUGE STRATEGIC STAKE,
[01:24:58.800]WE HAVE A HUGE SECURITY STAKE.
[01:25:01.033]I WISH THERE WERE A SILVER BULLET IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH
[01:25:06.133]ISLAMIC EXTREMISM.
[01:25:06.967]THIS IS ONE OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FROM DAY 1
[01:25:11.233]HAS TRIED TO TACKLE.
[01:25:13.133]THE PRESIDENT WENT TO CAIRO IN SPRING OF 2009 AND GAVE A SPEECH
[01:25:18.433]ABOUT OUTREACH OF THE U.S. TO THE MUSLIM WORLD.
[01:25:23.033]BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- HOW IT'S GOING TO
[01:25:27.633]PLAY OUT IS YET TO BE SEEN BUT WE HAVE A HUGE STAKE.
[01:25:30.734]>> ONE LAST QUESTION FOR BRIEF ANSWERS FROM EACH OF YOU.
[01:25:36.133]DO YOU THINK, AND MY APOLOGIES TO THOSE QUESTIONS WE WERE NOT
[01:25:39.600]ABLE TO ASK, THESE ARE EXCELLENT.
[01:25:41.900]AND THERE ARE TOO MANY GOOD ONES.
[01:25:43.734]BUT DO YOU THINK THERE IS STILL A ROLE FOR ONE GLOBAL HEGEMONY.
[01:25:56.100]>> NO.
[01:25:56.467]THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST
[01:26:01.367]POWERFUL NATION ON THE EARTH THROUGH THE 21st CENTURY.
[01:26:07.533]BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN UNIPOLAR ORDER AS SOMEBODY ONCE
[01:26:15.333]ASSERTED.
[01:26:15.700]THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO A MULTI-POLAR WORLD.
[01:26:22.834]WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF NATIONS WHO'S
[01:26:26.166]INTERESTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND
[01:26:29.834]ACCOMMODATED IF WE'RE GOING TO
[01:26:33.333]AVOID THE KIND OF CATASTROPHIC WARS THAT RESULTED
[01:26:40.133]WHEN WE LAST HAD A MULTIPOLAR ORDER AND IT
[01:26:47.967]IMPLODED 100 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR.
[01:26:50.900]THE REALLY BIG QUESTION OF THE 21st CENTURY AS FAR AS OUR
[01:26:54.400]WELL BEING IS NOT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT ISLAMIC
[01:27:00.166]RADICALISM.
[01:27:00.567]I'M NOT DISMISSING THAT, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO GATHER TOGETHER
[01:27:05.700]THIS MULTIPOLAR ORDER SO THAT THE SEVERAL GREAT POWERS ARE
[01:27:08.834]GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE -- TO COEXISTS.
[01:27:12.533]NOT LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY, BUT JUST COEXIST.
[01:27:18.867]U.S., CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN, EU.
[01:27:27.700]MAYBE BRAZIL.
[01:27:29.600]HOW ARE THESE COUNTRIES GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE, ESTABLISH
[01:27:33.533]BOUNDARIES, DEFINE PREROGATIVES,
[01:27:39.533]ESTABLISH LINES THAT WE WILL EXPECT.
[01:27:41.667]>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
[01:27:43.433]I THINK THE ARGUMENT THAT WAS U.S. WAS EVER A HEGEMONY WAS
[01:27:50.033]OVERBLOWN.
[01:27:50.400]IT WAS NEVER THAT WAY.
[01:27:51.266]WE DON'T SEEK IT.
[01:27:53.166]I DON'T THINK IT'S REALISTIC OR IN OUR INTEREST.
[01:27:55.734]THAT SAID, WE DO PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
[01:28:00.100]BECAUSE OF OUR VALUES, BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE OF OUR
[01:28:05.800]CAPABILITIES BECAUSE OF THE INSPIRATION THAT SO MANY AROUND
[01:28:08.367]THE WORLD DRAW FROM US.
[01:28:09.900]THAT'S A BURDEN IN SOME WAYS.
[01:28:11.633]THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE.
[01:28:13.166]PEOPLE LOOK TO US.
[01:28:14.700]THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE THINK.
[01:28:17.033]THEY WANT MORE U.S. INVOLVEMENT, NOT LESS.
[01:28:21.500]BUT THAT SAID THE DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR JOB SHOULD BE OR CAN BE
[01:28:25.066]IN THIS DAY IN AGE BEING THE UNIPOLE OR BEING THE HEGEMONY OR
[01:28:34.800]BEING IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING.
[01:28:36.767]THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD SEEK AND IT'S NOT REALISTIC.
[01:28:40.133]THE CHALLENGE WE'RE GOING TO FACE IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
[01:28:43.133]NONPOLAR WORLD.
[01:28:44.266]THE FACT THAT STATES CAN ACT AS POLES WHERE THEY'RE IN THEIR
[01:28:48.033]KIND OF OWN CYLINDERS AND THEY'RE NOT MIXED TOGETHER IS
[01:28:52.233]NOT THE 21st CENTURY.
[01:28:55.433]STATE SOVEREIGNTY MEANS LESS TODAY AND THE IDEA OF STATEHOOD
[01:29:00.800]IS CHANGING BEFORE US AND CITIZENS ARE INTEGRATED AND ABLE
[01:29:04.600]TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
[01:29:10.633]WHAT DOES A DIPLOMAT KNOW MORE THAN COMMON CITIZENS WHEN THEY
[01:29:17.500]INTERACT TOGETHER.
[01:29:18.133]THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT MOVING FORWARD AND A
[01:29:20.767]CHALLENGE FOR US TODAY.
[01:29:22.033]>> THANK YOU.
[01:29:23.400]AS WE GET TO THE END OF THE EVENING HERE, PERHAPS WE COULD
[01:29:26.400]JUST OFFER ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR A BRIEF MINUTE OR TWO OF
[01:29:31.467]REFLECTION FROM EITHER OR BOTH OF YOU IF YOU HAVE THINGS THAT
[01:29:34.767]WILL COME UP, OR HAVE NOT COME UP IN THE DISCUSSION HERE THAT
[01:29:38.834]YOU THINK THE AUDIENCE SHOULD TAKE WITH THEM THIS EVENING AS
[01:29:42.467]WE THINK ABOUT THE U.S.
[01:29:44.266]MILITARY, IT'S CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS FUTURE.
[01:29:47.600]>> FIRST OF ALL, IF I COULD THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
[01:29:51.266]I THINK THIS FORUM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S AN
[01:29:54.300]OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF YOU TO BE ENGAGED AND TO HEAR FROM FOLKS
[01:29:59.333]YOU AGREE WITH, DISAGREE WITH, FOLKS YOU MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE
[01:30:04.734]A CHANCE TO SPEND AN EVENING WITH AND HEAR ABOUT THE ISSUES
[01:30:07.567]THAT WE AS CITIZENS ARE FACING.
[01:30:09.700]AND TO HAVE A VOICE AND YOUR OPINIONS HEARD.
[01:30:14.033]AGAIN I DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO WALK OUT OF HERE HAVING AGREED
[01:30:16.734]WITH ANYTHING EITHER OF US HAVE SAID.
[01:30:18.934]BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF CITIZENSHIP TO DO THIS.
[01:30:21.834]SO FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[01:30:24.700]SECOND, IN TERMS OF OUR ROLE IN THE WORLD.
[01:30:27.400]I THINK WOMEN TO END WHERE I, I THINK I WANT TO END WHERE
[01:30:31.700]I ENDED MY OPENING REMARKS.
[01:30:33.700]DESPITE THE MISTAKES WE MADE, THE FACT WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT
[01:30:37.967]EVERY TIME, THE UNITED STATES IS A FORCE FOR GOOD.
[01:30:44.200]ANDREW MENTIONED INDISPENSABLE NATION, WHICH HAS BEEN USED
[01:30:50.433]SINCE 1996 WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON USED IT AND PRESIDENT
[01:30:52.900]OBAMA JUST USED IT IN THE STATE OF THE UNION.
[01:30:55.233]WHEN WE USE THAT PHRASE, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE THE GLOBAL
[01:31:00.567]HEGEMONY AND THAT WE BELIEVE THAT OUR WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY.
[01:31:04.100]IT'S THAT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS AROUND
[01:31:07.734]THE WORLD THAT ARE NOT SOLVE, THAT CAN NOT BE SOLVED WITHOUT
[01:31:11.767]THE UNITED STATES PLAYING A ROLE.
[01:31:13.700]SOMETIMES IT'S A LEADERSHIP ROLE.
[01:31:15.600]WE HAVE TO BE THE ONES BARING MOST OF THE BURDEN, SOMETIMES
[01:31:19.500]WE'RE IN THE BACKGROUND AND PROVIDING A UNIQUE CAPABILITY
[01:31:23.800]HERE AND THERE TO HELP SOLVE A PROBLEM.
[01:31:26.000]BUT MORE OFTEN THAN THAT, ALL THESE BIG PROBLEMS ARE NOT GOING
[01:31:29.000]TO BE SOLVED WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
[01:31:30.800]AND MY JOB, WHEN I WORK
[01:31:41.667]CONSTANTLY WHERE FOREIGN OFFICIALS, IN EVERY MEETING I'M
[01:31:45.667]IN THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE, NOT LESS.
[01:31:47.667]MORE OF OUR IDEAS, MORE OF OUR TIME, MORE MEETINGS, MORE OF OUR
[01:31:52.767]STUFF.
[01:31:53.100]IT'S VERY RARE THAT I, WHENEVER I'M IN A MEETING AND SOMEONE
[01:31:59.867]SAYS THANK YOU UNITED STATES WE HAD LIKE YOU TO GET -- WE WOULD
[01:32:02.867]LIKE YOU TO GET OUT AND NOT BE INVOLVED.
[01:32:05.333]NOW THAT'S A BURDEN ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BUT --
[01:32:15.700]ON TAXPAYERS BUT IT'S A BURDEN -- IT'S A UNIQUE COUNTRY.
[01:32:20.967]NOT EVERY COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD IS AN INSPIRATION
[01:32:25.567]FOR OTHERS.
[01:32:25.900]THERE'S COUNTRIES THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO SEE A LOT LESS OF
[01:32:29.066]IN THEIR REGIONS OR IN THEIR ISSUES.
[01:32:31.633]THAT'S SOMETHING I TRY TO KEEP IN MIND DOING MY JOB.
[01:32:34.433]WE'RE TACKLING TOUGH PROBLEMS AND WE DON'T HAVE EASY ANSWERS.
[01:32:37.834]THERE ARE NO SILVER BULLETS.
[01:32:39.400]NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO YOU GET CRITICIZED BY SOMEONE IN THE
[01:32:43.800]PRESS OR BY ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY AT HOME.
[01:32:46.967]THAT'S WHY YOU GO ABOUT YOUR BEST, AND TRYING TO MAKE THE
[01:32:49.967]CONDITION AND CALL IT STRAIGHT AND BE WILLING TO SUFFER THE
[01:32:53.533]CONSEQUENCES IF YOU GET IT WRONG.
[01:32:56.100]I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND STAY ENGAGED.
[01:32:59.066]>> I THINK I USED UP ALL MY PROFOUND THOUGHT.
[01:33:02.200][ LAUGHTER ] BUT I ECHO THE POINT.
[01:33:08.266]I HAVE TO SAY IT'S QUITE HEARTENING THAT THERE WOULD BE
[01:33:15.433]SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF YOU, WOULD COME OUT -- WHERE ARE WE?
[01:33:23.700]TUESDAY, TUESDAY NIGHT IN FEBRUARY TO DISCUSS THESE
[01:33:26.000]MATTERS.
[01:33:30.000]APPARENTLY DEMOCRACY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN NEBRASKA.
[01:33:33.767][ APPLAUSE ] >> LET ME JUST WITH REMIND YOU
[01:33:45.166]ON YOUR WAY OUT, MULTIPLE BOOKS BY OUR GUESTS ARE STILL
[01:33:49.767]AVAILABLE THERE FOR PURCHASE IN
[01:33:53.133]THE LOBBY AS YOU DEPART.
[01:33:54.767]IF YOU COULD JOIN ME IN ONE LAST BIT OF APPRECIATION FOR OUR
[01:33:58.967]DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
[01:33:59.934][ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:34:03.200]>> THANK YOU.

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“The American Military: War and Peace, Spending and Politics” - Andrew Bacevich and Derek Chollet

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