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Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton on the role national security will play in 2012 presidential election.
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We continue on Imus in the morning a -- been -- Out of the way of course but national security still a big issue.
For the 2012 presidential race in the former ambassador to the United Nations said John Bolton is with this year in studio to talk a little bit about that.
Festival -- -- the morning because its interest to your Washington examiner piece that you wrote.
It -- the title of it really sums it up saying that that the national security should not be an afterthought in the election do you get the sense now from watching things as they develop that it.
That is well I think President Obama would love to have it be an afterthought because of the failures of his policy over the past two and a half years he really doesn't.
Care that much about foreign policy but.
The trouble is that while he may want to focus on restructuring our domestic economy.
Our adversaries aren't waiting for us to get things right and the threats that we face I think are growing and they do have a direct effect themselves on our domestic economy don't you think he'd like to focus or at least bring -- the fact of the the bin -- -- in the bin -- killing and talk more about that then that say what will be talking about -- ten minutes which is the unemployment rate in the jobs picture in this country well I think there's a great achievement to get -- -- -- there's no doubt about it but it was the result of ten years of -- it was one of -- called by the president doesn't reflect his underlying foreign.
And it -- what is lost something there what was that center.
A light -- out adjustable and as you were speaking but you know that's live -- -- some somebody is after is what can you say thanks that the fact is that I think the administration would like to use been -- death.
As an argument for further withdrawals from Afghanistan further diminution in the US position around the world on the grounds the war against -- has been one that's just flatly wrong you know I was reading in your piece and here's what's the one of the things -- so that's me because -- speaks to the future and how we're gonna allocate.
There are funds or what our strategy is going to be and I'll just quote from a from a set for a second he talked about secretary of defense.
Our Robert Gates he said that he's pursued a relentless re direction of defense assets towards low intensity.
Conflict is what you talked about and and -- you -- essentially ignoring other thinks he's essentially ignoring the growing Russian and Chinese assertiveness.
So you you just don't think our priorities are in the right place -- it -- like I think in a world of uncertainty you have to prepare for multiple threats it's not wrong to be ready for more conflicts like Afghanistan because we may well see that look at Libya look at Yemen look at Syria.
But it's also the case that Russia and China.
Are creating -- re creating new strategic capabilities so we can't ignore that the possibility what -- -- What do we do about it then I -- in the simplest way of -- well for example against China -- the western Pacific -- creating a situation where they are challenging American -- -- for the first time since.
1945.
Meaning other countries near China feel threatened I think this is the wrong moment.
To reduce the size of our navy which is -- -- -- perilously low level.
And to keep America's visibility in that part of the world that has enormous economic consequences here at home to them may -- then the person running for president on the Republican side.
-- -- some -- -- familiar with China so -- Jon -- points it comes to money is -- the ambassador there does that not make -- well I think governor -- certainly looks like -- interest in running he might wanna explain why he worked for an administration -- so fundamentally disagrees with.
Or he didn't fundamentally disagree with that why should get the Republican on the there you go that's ER I -- -- -- -- you're gonna say that exactly but I've heard that from the Republican side.
I've heard arguments against Mitt Romney from the Republican side because of the health care.
You look at this candidate field and think want I've got to get in their soon or maybe there's a different thought process goes through your head.
I think many of the people who are or running for the nomination are eminently qualified to be present my concern is that we have a full scale debate on national security policy number one because I think president Obama's.
In confidence in the job has left the country.
Perilously weakened we need to alert people of that number two I wanna make sure that none of the Republicans turn out to be out liars that they are in the mainstream of Republicans think so what role you personally plan a lot of people want to run for president but what role you personally play -- that debate well I'm thinking of doing just that in order to make sure that we have an adequate level of debate on national security I'm also well aware that if -- not a sort of a full scope candidate.
You can be marginalized so if if I rang and I would not run just to talk about that that issue I would run to win that's a huge decision for anybody to make and that's that's what I'm still thinking that when we make it but because -- at some point it becomes too late to get -- I don't know what that point is because it's it's a big.
It's big deal running for president costs a lot of money you have to be very well organized it and you know all this but it you you can't stay out toll.
The and you got to get and at some point and once as you say once you get -- gotta be in it.
Essentially to -- -- -- at least try to when -- when do you make that decision by well I think it's the end of the summer the early -- I do think the entire schedule in this cycle has shifted well into the future much different from the last couple cycles I think the field distilling complete.
Whether I get in or not I still think there -- a lot of other people are gonna come and now we look at this all this one of the things we talk about when we talk about the candidates are sick or -- -- quote -- we -- discussion yesterday with a bit serious candidate for president verses who's in their.
May be stirred up a little bit or bring certain issues to the plate that wouldn't ordinarily be brought in.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- They're experienced in but what about you know sought more to -- and that.
Well I think there's no doubt that in the Republican Party there's very strong consensus for dramatic reductions not just in federal spending.
But in taxation in federal regulation I think this is an issue not a bad green -- shades and a and the budget it's about the total role of the federal government in our daily lives.
And I think as -- -- the budget up as you increase the federal government share of our gross national product you're reducing the scope of individual liberty I think that's really what the tea party's all about that's the way -- approach but does not done that budget.
Cutting mentality have to include to some extent.
The Defense Department and the military is now part of it I think there's unquestionably waste and fraud in the Defense Department budget it's it's part of the government after all and I think we ought to go after that aggressively the money we -- there -- -- back -- defense programs have been underfunded and if need be I'd cut more from domestic is that Secretary Gates is doing doesn't know he's not he has dramatically reduced already by about 400 billion dollars.
The total defense budget the president has instructed him to find 400 billion dollars more of cuts.
So we are reducing our capabilities well into the future the impact of these cuts will diminish our cloud and our projection of -- capabilities for decades.
Well -- ambassador Bolton it's always been terrific to see you.
You knocked -- one of the lights in the studio it smelled like smoke for a little while but we all fought -- together thank you very much miles -- enter for a little -- we're going to be all right we're sort of.
