Marshall Sanford: “Just on that point, though, it is so interesting that ultimately it is not just about balancing budgets, because I think…”

“Just on that point, though, it is so interesting that ultimately it is not just about balancing budgets, because I think that a lot of people from across this country look at the carrying on and the going on of Congress, and they say, You know, it is about green eye shades, and it is about trying to balance some numbers. No. It is about sustaining this Republic. Admiral Mike Mullen, when asked, What is the biggest threat to the American society? he didn't answer ``China,'' he didn't answer ``Russia.'' His answer was: The biggest threat to the American way of life is the national debt. If you were to look at a whole host of different folks across recent history--I mean, Paul Kennedy wrote I think an excellent book entitled ``The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers,'' and its premise was that economic supremacy was the precursor to military supremacy, for a civilization to be able to continue to project force. I think it is so interesting that the Prime Minister of Israel was here earlier today. We heard Prime Minister Netanyahu lay out his concerns with regards to some things happening in the Middle East. But America's variability, whether it is in engaging with an ally like Israel or whether it is engaging in a whole host of other conflicts that are innumerable and guaranteed across the next 25 years or so, our ability to impact those things will be driven, frankly, by these economic numbers.…”