On the recordMay 25, 2011
I thank my good friend for being so helpful. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen, described the U.S. debt as the ``biggest national security threat.'' Since September 11, 2001, we have spent over $1.2 trillion in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just think of that--$1.2 trillion. Every month we spend $10 billion in Afghanistan. This is roughly $1 out of every $7 we spend on defense. This level of spending is simply not sustainable. We should focus on the core mission that led us to Afghanistan to begin with, and that is keeping America safe from terrorism. Finally, and most important, our fight against global terrorism must begin to focus on Pakistan. In 2008, then-CIA Director Michael Hayden said: Let me be very clear today. Virtually every major terrorist threat that my agency is aware of has threads back to the tribal areas of Pakistan. A State Department report last summer reiterated this assessment and found that ``al-Qaida's core in Pakistan remained the most formidable terrorist organization targeting the U.S. homeland.'' We have invested enormous sums to build an effective partnership with Pakistan to fight terrorism. Since 2002, the United States has provided over $18 billion in foreign assistance to Pakistan--the highest of any other country in 2009 except Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet it is no secret that Pakistan plays a double game. Osama bin Laden's hideout location raises serious questions.…
