this does present a large number of processes. there is a relatively modest portion of the food supply. we will spell these folks are not exempted from food safety. they are exempted from what will be implemented. >> thank you for your comments. i am cheryl with the american society for nutrition. as you know, product pricing is an important part of

strengthening our food supply, so beyond the fda having access to records that the food company is keeping, i was wondering what the fda plans are to enhance the records that are being kept to ensure that accurate records are being kept beyond one step forward, one step back for all product transformations. i did not know if you all that started to look at the product requirements. >> yes. we have started looking, and getting back to what started it is part of the system. the law does give us some mandates but still in the concept of one up, one back is an enhancement of that. we will work with the industry

body with the technologies that are available to do tracings and in a much more real time way. from the fda, it involves a lot of old-fashioned shoe leather looking at written records, and that adds to the time it takes to get back to the source of the problem, some using the new tools and we have but going beyond that, to work with the industry to figure out what works in particular sectors of the industry. one thing ease we will never be able to specify what is the right tracing for each sector. it has to be different for each sector. that is where we are going with tracing. >> two more questions. over here. >> hello, my name is -- and i am with the acc.

food shippers and food packers. i was wondering what he thought was the biggest threat with regard to containers and what you are planning to implement in the future with regard to about. >> food packaging pick >> repackaging, correct. >> there is the food additive law that i mentioned earlier. there is a law that governs the chemicals and the substances used in food packaging and the safety concerns posed by the migration of those chemicals into food, so that is a system that operates independently of this new law. i do not see this law having an impact on that. transport and the ways in which, for example, tankers, you know, food products are managed to assure sanitation and prevent

contamination, that will be addressed, but in terms of another new lot in terms of food packaging, that is regulated separately. in general, that works well. there have been some things of late, to keep up with science, but the free market is pretty solid. >> hi, i am editor of "the public manager," which deals with federal workers issues it, an independent publication, and i was wondering since you have been laying out all the challenges in mandates you have to deal with, do you have sufficient resources currently to meet these deadlines?

[laughter] >> we can meet all the deadlines. we can meet by redeploying, and we are doing that. we are really prioritizing our work and being sure that we do everything to meet the deadlines and the law. what requires resources is building a system that takes post it regulations from the page to being a functioning system that is really working in a practical way to make food safer, so it is a science to meet the standards the best possible standards and to keep up with changes. is the training, the technical assistance and guidance. investment in capacity. it is all of these things. we cannot create a whole new system a of a globalized food system without investing to do that, so, again, that is where

we look forward to working with our stakeholders and congress to get those resources. >> deputy commissioner, thank you very much for your time today. ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us. we have a small token of our appreciation. it is a genuine synthetic crystal valued at well under $20. >> inappropriately has washington at the center of the globe. thank you. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] in a few moments, german

chancellor angela merkel and her welcoming ceremony and then her news conference with president obama. in about 1.5 hours, we will look at the significance of the german chancellor's visit and the dinner at the white house. after that, homeland security secretary janet napolitano on u.s. security tenures after the u.s. attacks. penn >> on "washington journal" tomorrow morning, we will look at the president and ceo of american crosswords. -- crossroads. and you can call into the chief economist from mizuho financial. "washington journal" is live on c-span every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> now, the white house welcoming ceremony for german chancellor angela merkel.

she and president obama talked about the american relationship with germany. this is about 35 minutes. ♪

[guard speaks] >> honor!

[guards speak] >> present. ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and michelle obama. ♪ [guard gives commands] ♪

♪ ♪ [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds]

[background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] >> ladies and gentlemen, the national anthem of the federal republic of germany, followed by the national anthem of the united states.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds]

[background sounds] [background sounds] ..

♪ ♪ ♪

[cheers and applause] ♪

[background sounds]

[background sounds] muck many. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [background sounds]

[background sounds] >> good morning, everybody. good morning. >> chancellor merkel, members of the german delegation, on behalf of michelle and myself, it is our great pleasure to welcome you back to the white house. and on behalf of the american people, it is our great honor to welcome you back to the united

states. [applause] >> [inaudible] >> today marks the first official visit and state dinner for a european leader during my presidency. it's only fitting the transatlantic alliance is the cornerstone, is the heart of our efforts to promote peace and prosperity around the world. in germany, at the heart of europe, is one of our strongest allies, and chancellor merkel is one of my close e global partners -- closest global partners.

[speaking german] >> our alliance at its core is a partnership between our peoples. the generations of german-americans who helped build a strong america. the americans who, during a long, cold war, helped to defend a free germany. and citizens of both our countries -- entrepreneurs, innovators, students, scientists and soldiers -- who worked together and forged the future every day.

[speaking german] >> at a time when some have asked whether the rise of new global powers means the decline of others, this visit reaffirms an enduring truth; our alliances with nations like germany are more important than ever. indeed, they're indispensable to global security and prosperity. [speaking german]

>> as two of the largest and most dynamic economies, the united states and germany can show that the prosperity we seek is best achieved when nations invest in our greatest resource, our people. and their ability to compete and innovate in the 21st century. [speaking german] >> as members of the most successful alliance in human history, our commitment to our common defense is also a pillar of global security.

from completing our mission in afghanistan, to preventing terrorist attacks, to achieving our vision of a world without nuclear weapons. [speaking german] >> and finally, as people around the world imagine a different future, the story of germany and our alliance in the 20th century shows what's possible in the 21st. wars can end, adversaries can become allies, walls can come down. at long last, nations can be whole and can be free. [speaking german]

>> madam chancellor, the arc of our lives speaks to this spirit. it's obvious that neither of us looks exactly like the leaders who preceded us -- [laughter] [cheers and applause] but -- but the fact that we can stand here today as president of the united states and as chancellor of a united germany is a testament to the progress, the freedom that is possible in our world. [speaking german]

[speaking german] >> chancellor merkel, members of the german delegation, we are honored to have all of you here as allies, as partners, but most of all as dear friends. [speaking german] [cheers and applause] [speaking german]

[speaking german] >> translator: mr. president, dear barack, michelle, mr. vice president, members of the cabinet, guests of honor, my fellow countrymen, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for this very warm and very moving reception. it is overwhelming. i am, indeed, delighted, and i say this on behalf of all the members of my delegation to be back in washington, d.c. again. [speaking german]

>> translator: about 20 months ago, and this was almost some 20 years after the fall of the berlin wall, i had the great honor and privilege to address most both houses of congress, a wonderful moment. and i'm certain this day today shall be another such unforgettable moment. [speaking german] >> translator: mr. president, receiving the presidential medal of freedom from you tonight is something that i consider to be not only an exceptionally gesture of appreciation, and i see this as a gesture of appreciation for the whole

united germany. it is also a testimony of the very, very close ties that bind our two countries together. [speaking german] [speaking german] [speaking german] >> translator: we germans know

that america has always been a true friend to us. our friendship has grown and matured throughout the decades, and every day it is filled with new life. more than 600,000 americans are working for german companies here in the united states, and the reverse is also true, more than 600,000 germans work for american companies in germany. there are many and diverse exchange programs at schools and universities, and they help us to win over new young people to serve as bridge builders between our two countries. seventeen million members of the armed forces of the united states and their families have lived in germany ever since the second world war, and they have served their country with honor and distinction and rendered an inestimable service to their country and to us. the more than 50,000 american soldiers who are currently stationed in germany are more

than welcome every day. [speaking german] [speaking german] >> translator: i could mention many more examples of the close ties that bind our two countries together, but let me underline one thing in particular. when germany and europe were divided by the wall and barbed wire, america consistently stood on the side of freedom and resolutely stood by us germans as we made our way towards unity and freedom, and this we shall never forget. [applause] [speaking german]

[speaking german] [speaking german] >> translator: today we are just as closely linked to each other by the bonds of friendship as we

were 20 years ago. we are standing on a firm foundation and standing and supported by this firm foundation we tackle the current challenges we both face. germany and the united states are partners, sharing responsibility for a peaceful and stable afghanistan. we are pulling in the same direction, trying to keep iran from following it course of developing a nuclear forces capability. in north africa we support the struggle for freedom, and in the middle east we support efforts to fill the peace process with new life. together we master the aftershock of the global, economic and financial crisis. yes, germany and the united states do share the same values; democracy and freedom, rule of law and the universality of human rights.

[speaking german] >> translator: and it is for this very reason that a close partnership with the united states is just as much part and parcel of germany's ray son deat the as is integration. both belong together, both are and remain the pillars of german foreign policy. >> mr. president, dear barack, in perlin in 2008 you -- in berlin in 2008 you spoke to more than 200,000 people, and in your address you said america has no better partner than europe. and now it's my turn to say europe and germany have no better partner than america. thank you. [applause] [cheers and applause]

.. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

this is 40 minutes. >> it is an honor to welcome angela merkel back to the

lighthouse. as you can see, her english is much better than mine german. we're looking for to hosting her at tonight's state dinner were i will have the privilege of presenting angelo what the medal of freedom. as i said earlier -- angela the medal of freedom. st tradestaining a large relationship in the world. we see it in the students and teachers, scientists and inventors unlocking innovations including that clean and renewable sources we need to create a climate of the future. we see our partnership in our service members to stand shoulder to shoulder in afghanistan, word germans serve under americans and americans are under germans. chancellor merkel i want to

thank you in the german people for your strong commitment to this vital mission. our hearts go out to the wounded warriors and all of the families and others whose loved ones have given their lives once rigid their lives to keep us safe. we see our partnership and the skill of our diplomats to prevent the spread of deadly weapons and stand up for democracy in europe and beyond. and in the passion of our development experts as they worked to avert suffering in countries like sudan. this is the essence of our lands, to people's committed to the security, prosperity, and the dignity not just our own citizens but those far beyond our borders. and that is also the essence of my partnership with chancellor merkel. i think this is our 10th meeting together. that does not include the many phone calls, videoconferences, that we seem to have at all hours of the day and night.

there is hardly any issue where we do not consult one another. i have said before i always buy you her pragmatic approach to complex issues. her intelligence, her frankness, and i trust her. as she set herself, it is fun to work together. and it has been again funded day even as we address some very urgent challenges. germany is one of our largest trading partners. we discussed how to keep our economy is growing and create the jobs that our people need. as she mentioned in her remarks at the opening ceremony, hundreds of thousands of american jobs are supported by our exports to germany. hundreds of thousands of americans work for german companies that have chosen to invest in america. i am pleased that billions of dollars more in german investment is making possible new plants -- steel and alabama, manufacturing in

tennessee -- all of which go to create thousands of new american jobs. the chancellor and i discussed the need to eliminate regulations and various silicon unleash even more trade and investment, including in the area of the electric vehicles where both our countries are leaders and where the possibilities of cooperation are enormous. and i appreciated her views on the financial syrup -- situation in europe, which we agree cannot be allowed to put the global economic recovery risk. we've broken the taliban's momentum, trained afghan forces, and are now preparing to turn a corner in our efforts. we're scheduled to begin the transition to afghan lead and lead, and i reiterated that we will begin reducing american forces the summer off even as we join with germany and our nato allies in supporting allies in the political and economic efforts to forge a lasting peace. i thank the chancellor for support for the principles that i laid out last month as the

basis for negotiations between israelis and passed -- and palestinians. and i want to commend and to look for her personal efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. just as we agreed that both sides will meet difficult choices, we agree that unilateral actions such as palestinians seeking a vote on statehood at the un general assembly, should be avoided. we agree that iran's continuing nuclear program and its refusal to engage in meaningful talks remains a serious concern. so we agree that if the international atomic energy agency this week determined that and that iran is ignoring its international obligations, we will have no choice but to consider additional steps including potentially additional sanctions to intensify the pressure on the iranian regime. finally discuss the historic changes under way in north africa and the middle east. with regard to libya, i would

note that germany's deployment of additional resources and personnel to afghanistan have allowed other nato allies to increase their support for the mission to protect the libyan people. the chancellor and i have been cleared -- gaddafi must get down and hand power to the libyan people. pressure will only continue with -- continue to increase until it does. and fallen our agreement with our partners in doh will, -- deauville, the chancellor and i discussed our support for the political and economic reform across the middle east and the north africa, and this is for a moment must not be squandered. we have an enormous stake in seeing that these transitions to democracy succeed. and given her own remarkable life story and her experience in helping to heal the wounds of the past and build a united germany, i very much appreciate

her leadership and her partnership in this effort. i am very grateful to the chancellor for pete -- for being here. i am confident that a grand alliance between our nations will remain an indispensable pillar of a world that is more secure and more prosperous and more just. and i very much appreciate the personal friendship that i enjoyed with the chancellor. so, angela. >> [speaking german] >> ladies and gentlemen, i like to use this opportunity to thank you most warmly for this wonderful reception. i am saying is also on behalf of our delegation. this reception i say to the white house is welcome that i

see as the testimony of are very close friendship, of our partnership. if we remind ourselves of the fact that every fifth american to their reilly points out and perhaps also with a degree of certain pride to his or her german answer -- ancestry, we can safely say that we share common roots. if we look at the names that loom large, frederick's steuben, guggenheim, way, strauss, singer -- all of these german names. that is a broad foundation on which we can build. and we're still grateful that some many germans found asylum and a safe place to live during the second world war in the united states. we have a broad based exchange of students. we have cooperation in science. we're working aerospace with the iss. we share a lot of successes. i mentioned the 50,000 soldiers -- american soldiers -- that are present today in germany are very welcome indeed in my country. let me say this on a personal note.

without the united states of america, i would in all probability not be able to stand here before you today. overcoming the cold war required courage from the people of central and eastern europe and what was then the drama -- the german democratic republic, but it also required the steadfastness of western partners over many decades when many had long lost hope of integration of the two germanys and europe. many perhaps did not even want this anymore. but then at george herbert walker bush said that german unity, european unity, is indeed something that deserves our support. so there are a lot of tasks that we have in common, a lot of challenges that we need to meet together. we're doing this in the spirit of freedom, of shared values. we want to bring these values to bear on the international agenda. we are dealing, and ever since the month of january with these issues, but arab spring in syria, in tunisia, in libya, in

libya. that is a very great challenge. let me take you back to that period after the second world war when for the marshall plan germany was able to get back on its feet again. i see this also is our common task, as the task of the europeans and of the americans and germans to support this change, to make it possible for these young people to have our perspective for the future. we talked about this. we talked about germany in particular with this experience and vocational training schemes, offering an alliance for jobs, for training and education. we're working with the egyptians and the two nations on this with our foundation. -- and the tunisians on this with our foundations. building up institutions, for example, is something that we want to do. i said that after be opened up an office and -- after we opened up an office in benghazi, will

serve as a clearing house for training schemes, for the security forces, the police there on the ground, and we will have an additional commitment to afghanistan. we talked about economic issues in the g-20. we worked very closely together and i believe we able -- we have been able to make a lot of progress there and be successful. the situation in the euro group in europe obviously is of great interest over here. finance ministers talk about these issues but we have talked about this is somewhat. europe is not only indispensable, it is part and parcel of our identity beard we have already said that german unity, it european unity and integration, that are two parts of one in the same coin. but we want to boost our competitiveness. we are very much aware that we are in a tough competition with the emerging economies. europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be

competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the united states. this is to be done on the basis of strength, of competitiveness, and on solidarity for the countries that need it, but they also need to come to enhance competitiveness. we talked about the middle east peace process. this was an important initiative to point out yet again that the united states of america, just as germany and the european union, which to promote a further development of the peace process. we want a two-state solution. we want a jewish state of israel alongside an independent palestinian state. unilateral measures are not helping at all to bring about this cause, and we wish to cooperate very closely on this because as we both say, time is of the essence. and looking at the changes in the arab area and the arab region, he would be a very good signal indeed if it came out that talks between the parties are again possible.

the commitment that we take in afghanistan shows we are very close. we're very grateful for the close cooperation in the north of afghanistan. that has turned out excellently. we share the opinion that in afghanistan we wish to approach the matter is in the sense of an integrated security approach, a network security approach. it was said we want to build up not only the military side of it, but the civil side of it. if we wish to go in together, out together. afghanistan will need our support in the long run so we will not abandon them. thank you very much for the rigid for the very friendly toss, for this very warm atmosphere, for making it possible to have this exchange of views and a very candid manner. even though we may look different than our predecessors, we have a lot in common and we have a lot to discuss. >> i will start off with steve holland of reuters. >> you both face economic

troubles. mr. president, how worried are you about the threat of a double-dip recession? what specific policies are you considering to help head it off? abroad, do you expect germany to find another bailout for greece? in chancellor merkel, is you're concerned about the possibility of u.s. defaulting on this debt? >> i am not concerned about a double-dip recession. i'm concerned about the fact that the recovery that we are on is not producing jobs as quickly as i want it to happen. prior to this month we had seen three months of very robust job growth in the private sector. so we were very encouraged by that. this month you still solid job growth in the private sector, but it had slowed down. we do not know whether this is a one-month episode or a longer trend. obviously we are experiencing some headwinds, and gas prices probably being most prominent. it has an enormous impact on family budgets and on the psychology of consumers.

and so we're taking a range of steps to make sure that we have an energy policy that can bring some stability to world oil prices. but the overall trend we've seen of the last 15 months -- 2 million -- over 2 million jobs created over the past 15 months, in rebounding of the manufacturing sector in the united states that is exemplified by the recovery of the big three auto makers here, all indicates that we have set a path that will lead us to long- term economic growth. but we still have enormous work to do. as long as there are some folks out there unemployed looking for work, then every morning when i wake some of the steps we took during a lame-duck session, the payroll

tax, the extension of unemployment insurance, investment or the tax breaks for business investment plants and equipment, all of those things have helped, and one of the things that i would be interested in exploring with the members of both parties in congress is how do we continue some of these policies to make sure that we get this recovery up and running in a robust way. we then have some long-term, competitive challenges and are not so different from germany or what any advanced company -- country is having to go through in the 21st century, where we have emerging-market sedar becoming more competitive themselves, so we are going to have to step up our game. we have the best trained workers in the world, making sure that we eat oat attract people to our shores, making sure that we reform our tax system so it is

less complex, more transparent, and is encouraging to business investment, and getting a hold on our debt in a way that is balanced, so are we going to have some days when things are not going as well as we would like, and then there will be times when we are surprised with economic data that is better than expected. the economy is going to accelerate, and that will " cause a continuation of a lot of what we have discussed. with respect to the european situation, i have had extensive discussions with angela. it is a tough situation, and i think we of knowledge that. the greek debt is significant, and it is taking some difficult steps to improve its situation, but they are under the gun from international markets, and as

part of the membership of the euro zone, they necessarily are going to be looking to other members of the euro zone to help them figure out a path forward. in germany is going to be a key leader in the process, and the politics of it are tough. you recall how difficult it was for us to make investments in our own automotive industry or to make sure we did not have a financial meltdown here. well, imagine if you are having to make the same decisions with 27 other countries with respect to somebody else's economic problems. that gives you some sense of how tough the politics are, et but i am confident that germany's leadership along with other key actors in europe will help us arrive at a path for greece and

to return to growth, but this will require some time, and we have pledged to cooperate fully, both on a bilateral basis but also with international financial institutions like the imf. >> [speaking foreign language] >> barack just outlined what they are doing for growth and to combat unemployment, which is what we are doing in europe, as well. we have seen how interdependent we are, and so the stability of the euro zone is important, so we do see clearly our european responsibility. with the imf. we have seen there is the

stability of the euro as a whole if one country is in trouble, and that is workable system is all about. there is actually a band of bailouts in the treaties, but if a country is in danger and thereby in dangers it as a whole, it is in every country's interest to see to it that the common currency is not endangered, and we have reacted in such a way that sustainability is guaranteed. as far as the situation in the united states is concerned, i think everybody needs to deal with their own problems. we want to make sure we shoulder of responsibility and meet it. mr. president? >> the chancellor today, just

turk recognition of accomplishments in the past. an expression of the expectations that you would have for the future, and if so, where do you see areas where the chancellor and germany could do more? [speaking german] >> maddon chancellor, germany is being praised in america. however, this entails responsibilities, and do you think that germany needs to do more? >> with respect to the medal of freedom, it certainly is a recognition of the chancellor's incredible career. i think not only has she been an excellent steward of the german economy and the european project, but she represents the

unification of europe through her own life story, and the capacity to overcome the past and point toward a brighter future, so the extraordinary work that she has already done, i think, would by itself merit the medal of freedom. fortunately, she is going to be around quite a bit longer, so she is going to be doing an outstanding work in the future. early ship will be critical on economic issues of the sort we just discussed in the euro zone, and i very much compliment her on the courage with which she approaches some of these very difficult political issues at some political significant cost to self. on the political stage, there are no issues that we do not quarter net closely with

germany, and a work in afghanistan, a work together with nato, the approach that we have taken with respect to the middle east, in our approaches to development issues and how we help the poorest countries find their place in the international economy, these are all going to be areas where i think angela leadership will be needed, and we want to achieve a more peaceful and prosperous world. she is not finished yet. she has got a lot more work to do. and sometimes she might like to of a couple of days off, but she will have to wait for that. >> [speaking foreign language] >> when you see me standing before you today, but receiving

the present is -- a prestigious award of the medal of freedom, perhaps we need to look back to 1989 and the german unification and what happened there. germany entered into a new phase. all of a sudden, we were a country with all rights but with all obligations. if i think back to the 1990's, we were struggling for a decision that would enable us to send ships, taking part in reconnaissance missions, and if you compare it to where we are today, you can see the road that we have traveled in the direction of a city more international responsibility. participating in a latrine missions in the balkans, combating piracy, and in other areas, but what is also

important in this context, and this is an approach we both share, barack and i, we need to combined military and civil engagement. the world is full of problems that we need to address. that is the reality, and you cannot have an of partners, and this is what this cooperation is so extremely important for our common future. i am saying this also as someone who comes from europe. the changes in north africa are changes that happen on our doorstep. we do not have a choice. either this works out well, we have enormous refugee problems, so it is not only out of charity that we help people and have an obligation, but we have a vested interest in seeing to it.

>> thank you, mr. president, chancellor merkel. mr. president, you called the chancellor one of your closest allies. the economic recovery over the years. in libya, do you believe more german military involvement in the operation would bring it to a faster conclusion, and did you ask chancellor merkel for that commitment? and on the economic condition, did you ask for her for the private sector become involved in the greek debt bailout? america's own stalled recovery. chancellor merkel, if i could ask you, do you believe nadel was mistaken with getting involved militarily in libya, and if not, what are you not involve more militarily there, and what can you do to promote a

more accelerated european economic recovery? thank you. >> first of all i think it is important to note that this is a nato operation. it is fully integrated, which means you have jarrin personnel who are involved actively in these activities in their nato role, and as i indicated before, germany has stepped up and take an additional responsibility in afghanistan that have freed up resources for us to be able to invest our operations in libya. chancellor merkel and i share the belief that gaddafi needs to step down for the sake of his own people, and with respect to the pace of operations and participation, i think if you look at where we were three months ago and where we are now or where we were two months ago and where we are now, the

progress that has been made in libya is significant. powerball there was to protect the libyan people from a potential slaughter. we have done so. benghazi is free from threats of the libyan regime right now. they are hunkered down. another city, although still threatened, the gaddafi forces have been pushed back. so what you are seeing across the country is an inerasable trend -- is a trend where those forces are being pushed back. you are seeing defections, oftentimes of some very high- profile members of the gaddafi government as well as the military, and i think it is just a matter of time before gaddafi goes, et and each country that

is part of this coalition is playing a different role, so we did a whole bunch of stuff on the front end " with the gaddafi air defenses, to take out some of their more significant firepower. now, we're in a more supportive role, and other countries have stepped in. germany, we did discuss last night germany's role, and there is going to be a lot of work to do when gaddafi does step down, in terms of getting the libyan people back on their feet, economic, political work that is going to have to be done, and my expectation is point to be that there will be full and robust german support, as there has been in the past from germany on a wide range of issues. with respect to the economy, as i said before, this is a tough and complicated piece of business, and, ultimately,

europeans are going to have to make decisions about how they proceed forward. what you have to do is balance the recognition that greece has to groote -- wrote -- grow, and that means there has to be investment there. they have to have greater transparency in their economic system, but given the level of debt, it means that other countries in the euro zone are going to have to provide them the backstop and support, and, frankly, people will are holding greek debt are going to have to make some decisions working with the european countries in the euro zone about how that debt is managed. what we have done is to say to germany and other countries that are involved, "we are there for

you. we are interested in being supportive. we think american economic growth depends on the sensible resolution of this issue." we think it would be disastrous for us to see an uncontrolled spiral and default in europe's car coat, because that could trigger a whole range of other events, and i think angela has shared that same view, so we're going to have to work through this issue methodically, and we will be supported in any ways we can to make sure that all the best ideas are brought to bear on the problem, but let me just make one larger point because it relates also to the question that steve asked earlier. i think people on both sides of the land are understandably frustrated with the ups and downs of the economy, the world

economy, and it is just very important for folks to remember how close we came to complete disaster. the world economy took a severe blow 2.5 years ago, and in part, that was because of a whole set of policy decisions that had been made in challenges that had been unaddressed for the course of the previous decade, and recovering from that kind of body blow takes time, and recovery is going to be uneven, and there are going to be times when we are making progress, but people are still skittish and nervous, and the markets get skittish and nervous, and so they pull back because they are still thinking about the traumas of just 2.5 years ago, and so there is economic data that in better times will pass without

comment, now, suddenly, people wonder if we're going to go back to this terrible crisis, and it affects consumer confidence. it affects business confidence. it affects the capital markets, and so our task is to not panic, and not overreact, to make sure that we have got a plan, a path forward in terms of how we make our economies competitive, making sure that we're dealing with the structural issues and basic fundamentals that will allow us to grow and create good, sound business and barnett, so in america, for example, the need for us to give a holder of our debt and our deficit is going to be important, making sure our investments in education and clean energy, in infrastructure, that we find a way to do that. in germany and europe, there are going to be different sets of challenges, but the important

part, and i think angela will agree, " we try not to do is look day-to-day at what is happening in the marketplace or whatever headlines are taking place, and the reactive. our job is to set a course for the medium and long-term that assures not only that our economies grow about the world economy is stable and prosperous, and i think we can do that together. >> [speaking german] >> maybe i should comment on this, as well. 2.5 years ago, we experienced something that had not existed. the previous century. because we cooperated so well, we were able to ward off what could have happened, and now we have a situation. before the crisis, there was the

g-8, it and now we have the g- 20, which is a good format. we are setting up rules for the financial markets, and that has strengthened our cooperation. do we need more stimulus? how much do we need? how many savings programs do we need? structure programs do we need? i think that shows great openness, because we're all breaking new ground and are in uncharted waters. we cannot put this on the financial business community alone. we are dependent on our own good and sound judgment, and changes will be necessary in the future. gaddafi needs to step down, and he will step down. i am convinced of that because

we have made great progress. in the future, when we have further talks on this, we believe that germany is responsible and committed to the goals. there are things to contend with. there is the german support for nato. also by stepping up our commitment in afghanistan. it is our joint will lead this nato mission is successful. it is important for the people of libya, but it is also important for nato, the alliance at large, and we want to have one heart that beats with the other allies. >> [speaking foreign language] >> were you surprised by these limitations?

is this something like a reset button or breaking out into a new future? and you, president obama, not in berlin. why not? and will this happen? >> [speaking german] our partnership, a friendship, rests on a very broad basis. sometimes, there may be differences of opinion, and in such a relationship, we wish everyone success. without sort of mixing up things here. there are areas in the world where we shoulder responsibility. ... doing together partly with others things that we believe

can be useful, and this is what we want to do. we want to see that this is bringing a part success. this is good, this is sensible, so today's event was a wonderful reception, but it is not something that is so unusual. i see it in the continuity of our relationship. and for many other changes of the future. on the question that say that the president was not in germany at all, berliners can also waged. they have proven this to read their history. >> i look very much forward to being in berlin, and the last

time i was there, we have a lot of fun. and i am sure that i will have a wonderful time the next time i am there, as well, and i appreciate you assuming the i will have another term, so i will a plenty of time to be able to put berlin on my schedule, all right? thank you very much, everybody. >> [speaking german] >> and i can promise that the brandenburg gate will be standing for quite some time. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

>> thanks, alex. >> this was the scene earlier this evening when president obama and first lady michelle obama greeted chancellor angela merkel with their first meeting with the german leader since helmut kohl. about to a underinvests are attending a black-tie dinner, and later, entertainment from singer/songwriter and james taylor. they exchanged the traditional toast of the evening. we will try to bring that to you in a little bit. a full day of meetings between the two leaders. angela merkel is the head of the german government, not the state. for protocol reasons, she

received a 19 gun salute as opposed to the traditional 21- gun salute reserved for a head of state. joining us tonight to help us learn more about u.s.-german relations, a senior fellow of foreign relations. we will take your tweets and phone calls, as well. let's begin with the state dinner now for the chancellor. >> i think that the obama administration wanted to send a message that they consider this to be a centerpiece of global security, and i think there were some that were worried, first term in obama's that he was more interested in asia, in other parts of the world, but that he would shifting away. i think he wanted to deal with

that misperception. a few weeks ago, he spent a week in europe, mainly to deliver a message. now, et she is here for a two- day visit. lots of pomp and circumstance. this is still a core relationship. and to some extent, it helps her at home. she is in a rough patch of low public opinion. she needs a shot in the arm. >> the partnership. you mentioned the word security. economic security? what security? >> the international agenda. the economic situation is front and center. europe is struggling for stability in what is called the euro zone, the countries within the european union with the eurocom and 3, portugal, greece, and ireland have had debt

problems that have required a bailout, and as the largest country in europe, angela merkel has been asked to write the check. this is part of her domestic. >> what are the expectations for these two leaders and the meetings that they have had? on monday night, they had a dinner at a local restaurant in washington, d.c., in georgetown, a popular restaurant. what are the expectations? >> i think, number one, to get some political momentum back to europe. united states feels it is tired from the war in iraq. having the defense budget. they are looking to europe to be a strong and capable partner. europe to some extent is treading water. there is not a lot of wind in

their sales. obama is saying to america, "take the lead. get europe to do more." and then in the details, stabilize the euro zone. two, the war in libya, and angela merkel was skittish to endorse the campaign, and i think obama has been trying to get around more forcibly, and that i think the arab part will be an important part of the conversation, where obama is trying to create a single page of music for the united states and europe to work together, to push for the democratization. >> the two held a news conference earlier today. what has been accomplished? >> it is hard to know what deals were struck or were not struck. the issues on the table have been clarified. they probably did reach some

agreement, things a angela merkel will do, things that will, will do, but we do not know exactly what the details are. clearly, if you look at the press conference, if you look at the statements of the president and the chancellor, they want to paint the picture that germany and the united states are very much on the same page, and that is as much about obama politics as it is about the agenda, sending a message to europeans and americans alike that the transatlantic relationship is strong. >> we will be taking your telephone calls and tweets. he is the former european affairs director from 1993 to 1994. if you are a republican, and dial one number. democrats, another number. independents. remember, you can send us a

treat, as well. angela merkel has been called a couple of times. the world's most powerful woman. >> the captain of one of the world's leading economies. number two, she is someone you at this point is probably europe's strongest leader, in europe is bigger than the sum of its parts. in other words, it is not just germany, france, u.k. alone. they are trying to abrogate their wells. in some ways, she is not just a german leader. she is someone who operates on the european stage, but there is no question that she has been brought down a couple of notches over the last year. three issues in particular have been trouble for her. one was the bailout, which she

talked about. the second was nuclear energy in germany. after the japan crisis, the tsunami and the fukushima and knelt down, there was a big debate in germany about should we have the continuation of the nuclear reactor? initially, she said, "yes, we are going to keep them going." then a few weeks ago, finally, e voted to abstain the security council, not to vote with the u.s., france, and britain, in favor of the campaign, and many germans showed their head -- scratched their head. see she seems to be in glowing with the wind. if >> what makes it so strong? how is it different from the united states?

>> one thing the german economy has always been noted for is the quality of its manufacturing sector. they are not being deindustrialized by china, because they are focused on high-end manufacturing, high quality machine tools, bmws, mercedes, and because of their engineering schools, their vocational schools, they have really been able to preserve their industrial base. they have been pretty good about fiscal responsibility. inflation is a dirty word, up because it was inflation that led to the rise of hitler, and as a consequence, germans have tended to tighten their belts, to keep their debt relatively low.

it is responsible fiscal policy. >> but they do have debt. most countries do have debt, but if you compare it to other countries, they are in much better shape. they rain pretty high. it has been said that they do sell >> they re pretty high acid exporters. -- they are pretty high as exporters. rebalancing of the economy. they have relatively low domestic consumption and high rate of exports. countries like the united states pay the prize. german and chinese and not

.uying them kare what they have talked about is what they can do to rebalance. how can we get lower consumption and more exports to the united states? >> ac also talking diverted say they need to get more? >> there is the question that it is part of the dialogue. they are making sure there is stability. i think obama is concerned about two things. the growth back to europe as a whole and make sure there is not a run on the euro. they almost broke the global

economy. >> you are on the air. >> how does this affect foreign currencies in the mid east? as far as making their currencies stronger and more stable? >> are you referring to the euro? >> the middle east currency itself. if you look at the kuwaiti dollar, how that revalued, did that make their economies strong third? >> to the best of my knowledge, many of the economy's are pegged to the dollar or external ones.

one of the issues people are watching carefully as the year rose stabilizes is will the dollar knock this off? i think most people believe that by 2025, it will no longer be one local currency. it will probably be three. that will put doesn't quite a different world than we are today. >> we want to show you from earlier this evening president obama and angela merkel giving their traditional toast to each other at the state dinner. >> i think your gracious -- i look back here gracious

hospitality. we felt we would reciprocate with a little dinner and our rose garden. -- in our rose garden. >> it is customary to celebrate the values that bind nations. tonight we want to do something different. we want to pay tribute to an extraordinary leader. i>> [translator]

>> five decades ago, the first german chancellor ever to address our congress spoke of his people's will of freedom and the millions of the countrymen. one of those millions was a young girl. >> [translator] the

>> she remembers when the wall went up and tell everyone was crying. she cannot pursue her love of languages. she had to spy for the speaker police -- secret police and she refused. when the wall came down, she crossed over like so many others.

>> [translator] >> tonight with honor and some merkel not for being denied her it, but forobtaining it achieving what she did. she rose to become the first the firstthlead in woman chancellor in history. >> [translator]

>> the presidential medal of freedom is the highest honor to present can bestow upon a civilian. only a few others have received it. please join me in welcoming chancellor merkel to receive this medal of freedom. >> the presidential medal of freedom -- [german translator]

>> she came to symbolize the time of free them becoming the first to serve as chancellor of united republic of germany. she also became the first aim of chancellor, a dedicated public servant. portias promotes a liberty and prosperity in europe and throughout the world. >> the presidential medal of freedom -- [german translator]

>> you can all applaud. >> i have to do the toast. i want to conclude by an abiding all of you to stand for the toast.

-- by inviting all the to stand for the toast. the word spoke but only to the dreams of the young girl in the east and all those a year for the rights and dignity today. it must be defended every day of our lives. >> [german translator]

>> [speaking german]

>> ladies and gentlemen, the first political event during my childhood that i distinctly remember is the building of the berlin wall. my family broke out in tears. my family was separated through the building.

>> for many years i have driven >> as many others do of freedom. that yardy have plan for the days i would reach retirement age in the age of 60. >> we were somewhat more privilege.

>> [speaking german] >> i never knew and when did stay at the rose garden. it is beyond even-imagination. receiving this award was great. >> [speaking german].

>> my thanks goes to the american people. thank you for this extraordinary honor. i think he personally because you are a man of strong convictions. you have visions for people. we have been able to put down important issues. last but not least, there is the

solution to the conflict. >> [speaking germany]. >> that the testimony of the excellent from american partnerships, our country signed it together for peace and freedom. it means people to overcome their fears and overcome dictators.

>> [speaking german] >> i am with you here tonight. >> during of freedom cannot be contained. it is this one that divided

germany in europe. it is usually on the side of freedom. >> [speaking german] >> all today the earning of freedom make this tremble. there are changes in the arab world. each and everyone has the same night for freedom.

>> they struggle for freedom. my thoughts are with our soldiers and the many volunteers who tried to help. the risk their lives. >> >> this year marks the 10th

anniversary of the horrible attacks and 9/11. of the past 10 years we have a joint side against free them. we see that defending this is one in the same. it is not come naturally. they had to defend it time and time >> [speaking german] >> sometimes, this may seem like an endless flight -- fight.

but my personal experience is a different one. what we dare not dream of today may become reality tomorrow. >> [speaking german] neither the chains of dictatorship nor the fetters of oppression can keep down the forces of freedom for long. this is my firm conviction that shall continue to guide me. this, the presidential medal of freedom, shall serve to encourage me. mr. president, thank you for honoring me with this prestigious award.

[applause] >> and german chancellor angela merkle speaking this evening in the rose garden at the white house for a state dinner, tonight the fifth state dinner, the first state dinner for a german leaders since helmut kohl in 1995. they have dinner under the stars tonight with 200 guests. all of tonight's events and the events held earlier this morning with the chancellor can be found on our website. we are taking your phone calls and tweets tonight. our guest is with the council

of foreign relations. we talked earlier about germany's economy and its exporting that it is able to do, and the strength of that. but there are intricacies to the german economy. a man was on our program who lives in germany and consults with the german economy. here is what he had to say about how it works over there. >> they have ridiculously pushy social programs in europe. they can pay for that partly because they have lower defense spending. if you list in germany the most popular programs, defense is always last in every poll. it is not left-wing or right- wing. everyone thinks it. they have wonderful safety nets, a wonderful train system, for instance. they do not spend money on

defense. they are still in terrible trouble. they have demographic problems worse than ours. we have even with illegal immigration a lot more people who pay payroll taxes. i was the only one on the train in germany of working age. everyone thinks i am crazy. it is not a sustainable system. they have horrible economic problems, but they are different than ours. >> is it a sustainable system? >> i think john put his finger on the long-term demographic problem. it is not just germany. it is most of europe. their birth rate is below replacement value. when you look at the next 20 years, you get more attention years -- more pensions and fewer

workers. who is going to pay for them? the answer is immigrants. the big difference is immigrants. that issue is extremely difficult for europe. that is because europeans have not been able to integrate with immigrants in the same way the united states have. in particular, there is a growing divide, a socioeconomic and cultural divide, between the majority populations in europe and many of the immigrants, who are muslim. that has created this religious social tension that is in many respects the great challenge for europe, moving forward. >> what does that mean for the european union and the future of the euro? >> the european union has had enormous success since 1951. a single market. a single currency.

they ratified the lisbon treaty and now there is a president of europe. there is a foreign minister of europe. effectively, she has at her disposal what is called the external action service, a new diplomatic corps for europe. when you look at the institutions, europe looks fine and well. when you drill down to the politics, europe does not look fine. there has been are- nationalization -- there has been a re-nationalization. decision making has gone back to national governments, a clawing back. we do not know where this is going. it is safe to say that for the first time in the history of the european union it is credible to say it is hitting its high water mark. it may go no further. that is one of the things i think obama is talking to merkle about.

we need you to lead and bring more life into the european project. each country alone is not big enough to cut a figure on the global stage. europe is. europe has more people than the united states. it is a bigger economy. but only when it pulls together. >> we have a call from a republican in northern washington. >> i really enjoyed this. angela merkle represents something that she touched on. she grew up in a totalitarian marxist-leninist police state and resisted those who tried to oppress the millions of german citizens of east germany for many years. as she said, she could never imagine she would be in the white house, receiving the medal of freedom. she says remember -- things can change dramatically.

your most profound dreams -- the reality can exceed your fondest dreams. this happened to her. she is saying once again that totalitarians are a danger in the world. the muslim totalitarian regimes are now facing a change. she was raising an issue that possibly they could also disappear and they could have freedom for the muslim peoples. that is what she is working for, and hopefully obama and the other leaders in europe. let us pray that they succeed. >> there is no question that you are right that she represents a historic figure in some sense, and that she did grow up in eastern germany, in a totalitarian system. now she is standing in the rose garden, getting the medal of freedom as chancellor of germany. you have to pinch yourself when you look at that. one of the things obama and

merkle have been talking about is how to shepherd the middle east in the same direction that east germany went. i have to say it is going to be a tougher job in the middle east because many of the countries there have not had experience with democracy. many of them have sectarian, tribal, and ethnic cleavages. it will be a bumpier road. central europe took about a decade to consolidate democracy. but i do think we are at the beginning of the process that may do for the middle east what the fall of the berlin wall did for europe. it is just going to take a longer time. >> the chancellor is the first woman as well to lead germany. she was elected in 2005 and reelected in 2009. we will go to an independent in san antonio. >> if i have time, i would like to make a comment on germany and

their defense spending. my question is on may 11 at the united nations, in a governmental panel on climate change, they released a report that stated that by 205080% of the world's energy could -- that by 2050, 80% of the world's energy could come from renewable. germany wants to phase out nuclear energy. president obama pointed out germany is one of the leaders in electric vehicles. how much discussion will there be with regard to renewable, especially with the economic conditions in the united states and the debt problem? >> we will leave it there and get an answer. >> there is no question that merkle's decision to shut down nuclear energy in germany will put pressure on germany to innovate green technology that can provide the electricity that will no longer be generated by

nuclear plants. we do not know how successful they will be. they may end up generating more from coal, buying nuclear-power energy from france, or importing gas from russia to fuel their electrical generators. we are at the tip of that iceberg. only time will tell. a quick word on the defense budget you mentioned. there are two separate issues. europeans in general spend much less on defense than americans do, but germany is a particular case because of the deep anti- war sentiment that remains from world war ii. that is one of the reasons merkle has been reluctant to send more troops to afghanistan or libya, this sentiment against military force. >> how much less as germany spend on defense? >> the u.s. has always been well

above its european partners, even during the cold war, and has lectured its allies about the need to spend more, burden- sharing. germany has just gotten rid of conscription and is moving toward a smaller professional force. the problem in some ways is not that they spend too little. it is how they spend it. they have been buying large territorial armies. each european country has tried to have a full-spectrum force rather than focusing -- one does the army, one does the navy. one of the things europe has to do is spend defense dollars more wisely. >> yet they have a major presence in afghanistan. >> they do have about 50,000 troops in afghanistan. they are going to start cycling out, in coordination with the united states, beginning next

month. it has been a very tough sell. the war in iraq was very unpopular. the war in afghanistan was a little more popular, but mostly not. the vast majority of the german electorate says, "what are we doing in afghanistan?" >> that is the debate in this country as well, as leaders debate what to do with our debt. defense spending in afghanistan is part of that discussion. angela merkle was asked earlier about how she viewed the u.s. debt. >> the situation in the united states -- i think everyone should deal with their own problems. we in europe have our hands full with what we need to do. i am convinced that as we shoulder our responsibility, so will the united states of america. >> we each have our own responsibility. >> the europeans take a

different approach to the question of how to deal with that than americans. americans are generally keynesian its -- are generally keynesians. you worry about the economy when the economy -- you worry about the debt when the economy is doing better. the germans have not embraced that view. they say tighten the belt, bite the bullet, and emerge stronger at the other end. the problem with that even if it works is that for the foreseeable future europe will be experiencing very slow growth. europe will not be contributing to global growth in the way the obama administration would like. >> how do germans of view of the european bailout versus how the chancellor visit -- the use it? -- views it?

>> one thing the bailout has done is politicize europe. europe has succeeded by being an elite phenomenon. most europeans say, "it does not matter to me." now that the german taxpayer is asked to write checks to the irish or the greeks, if you go to a cafe in berlin, people are talking about the bailout. that is why merkle is having such a hard time. i think she knows that she needs to do whatever is necessary to stabilize the euro. but when she goes to talk to people on the street, they are saying, "why am i bailing out a grease -- a greek person who retires at 52 when i retire at 67?" >> there is a second bailout package on the table for greece.

>> i think it is probably going to go forward. there is a debate now in europe and the imf about whether they can get by with a new package, underwriting more loans, or whether you have to restructure , which is either extend the debt or write down some of the debt so the greeks can climb out of the deep hole they are in. >> they received 161 billion, just for greece. in may, portugal received $117 billion. a second package on the table for greece. let us go to a democrat in pennsylvania. >> thank you, and thank you for your public service. i have two general questions.

first, i have been reading the neighboring nations in europe are concerned about power grids failing as germany closes its nuclear power plants. i would like your opinion. do you think they will be successful in shutting down the nuclear power plants by 2022? if so, how do you think that will impact nuclear energy politics in the u.s.? my second question -- the spiritual and religious narratives of presidential candidates in the u.s. is often part of the campaign. the fact that she is the daughter of a lutheran pastor -- did that work to her favor in germany, or do they not take up those questions when they review their candidates for elections? thank you. >> i think the germans will

stick to the current plan to shut down in a gradual fashion their remaining reactors. i think they have 17 in total. seven of them are not operational. 10 are still operating. they will be phased out by 2022. you will either see electricity prices go up or remain the same through borrowing across national boundaries, importing electricity from france and russia. i do not think we are really talking about prices. i think germany may be unique here. i think fukushima was a shock to everyone. but at this point i do not see the americans or french or others doing what the germans have done. the german situation is unique in part because of the experience of the war and aversion to nuclear energy

because of the linkage to nuclear weapons. on the second issue, religion does not play the same role in european politics that it does in the united states. most european politicians do not talk openly about matters of faith. i think merkle generally falls into that category. >> here is a question from one of our viewers. what will germany do about spain? >> one of the big unknown unknowns is who might be next. thus far, it has been relatively small countries with relatively small gdp's. if you start talking about spain or italy, countries that ranked as global economies, when it comes to a bailout you are not talking about $100 billion. that starts to seem like change. then i think europe would face some very tough questions.

one of the reasons i think it is important for merkle to do what is necessary to stabilize these smaller economies is if you do not do that it is more likely the market is going to go after spain and italy. if you get right the bailout packages and fiscal austerity for the current set of countries, it is more likely markets will start leaving the euro alone. >> let us listen to what chancellor merkle had to say at the economic forum in january. >> europe has a problem with high indebtedness. let me say this clearly again. the euro is our currency. it is much more than just a currency. if you like, it embodies europe today. i have quite often said this. should the euro fail, europe will fail. it is a political construction. for us, a continent of 500

million, it is fair competition with others. it allows us to pool our resources and to defend our common interests. we are going to defend the euro. there is no doubt about this. and we need to pursue a policy of stability of the euro. we need to show solidarity. >> she says that europe is our currency. what do you hear there? >> the germans gave up the deutsche mark very reluctantly and may have done so reluctant -- and may have done so prematurely. you now have a single currency, but not what usually comes with a single currency, which is conversion on corporate policy. that is one of the reasons the euro crisis is occurring. but the euro is now so much a part of the european landscape

that the germans and the french will do what is necessary to keep it afloat. one of the things the chancellor said that is worth mentioning is that this is also a question of war and peace. we need the euro and europe to preserve peace. one of the things that is taking place in europe right now is a generational change. merkle represents the swing generation. for the older generation, everyone always supported europe as a way to escape the past, to make sure germany is never at war with its neighbors. if you say that to a 20-year-old who came of age after the fall of the berlin wall, they have no past from which they seek an escape. one of the things merkle and other leaders have to do is find the next narrative. escaping the past will not do it. you have to build the future. europe's place and contribution

to global peace, the role in the arab spring -- maybe it is that narrative europeans are waiting for. >> we are speaking about u.s./german relations tonight. guests are dining in the rose garden under the stars at the first state dinner for german chancellor angela merkle, the first one since helmut kohl in 1995. she has been at the united states six times, but this is the first state dinner. why not under president george w. bush? what was their relationship? >> i think this particular visit is laden with symbolic importance, and that the relationship between the united states and germany has gone through something of a rough patch. germans are asking why obama has not been to berlin. has the united states to some extent lost its european

calling? obama wanted to send a clear signal -- we stand by you. this relationship is important. it is not as if with previous visits they were downgraded. it is that this one comes at a very important time in obama's presidency and merkle's chancellorship. >> we will go to the republican color -- a republican caller. >> i wanted to let you know that your comments are very much appreciated. you handle calls very well. we really enjoy you. you are a great host. i want to ask your guest -- the euro has been so strong for the last few years, with the

exception of the last two years. it has been a strong currency. all of the social benefits that germany offers -- how come german exports are so strong, and yet in the u.s. we complain we cannot compete against china because of the fact that wages are low? which is in germany are higher than the u.s. -- wages in germany are higher than the u.s. since the cold war, germany worked as an ally to the u.s.. now russia has its own interest to protect. with natural gas and the close alliance between germany and russia, how will this affect u.s. foreign policy in the future with germany? >> an interesting question. on the first issue, you are right to say that the wages of

germans are higher than americans. they have a cushy welfare state and health care system. it is expensive to hire workers in germany. there has been some shrinkage of the system. some efforts have been made to reduce the benefits so employers are no longer as worried about the non-wage costs of labor. but the main reasons the germans have done well is they produce good stuff. they have the best engineers in the world, and produce machines and ball bearings. there is not serious competition in other places. that is why they continue to thrive and exports fuel their economic growth. on the second question, i might disagree with you a little bit on your characterization of russia as an adversary. i would say that with the reset

that has taken place between obama and medvedev and the effort by nato to reach out to the russians things are slowly moving in the right direction. they are meeting tomorrow in sweden, the defense ministers, to talk about missile defense. for the last three or four years, the russians were saying no. they have changed. they are now talking to dates, our secretary of defense, about cooperating. they are working with us on iran. they are sending helicopters to afghanistan. they have talked about mediating with libya. i think the glass is more half full. i would not be surprised if by 2015 or 2020 we see russia anchored in a broader europe. >> we have an independent

caller. >> i would like to make a comment. i am an american of german heritage and feel very proud to see chancellor marco -- merkle. my question is related to the decline of the birth rate in germany. i was going to a german mother in 1969 in europe but and not allowed to have a german nationality because of laws that state that women who had children before 1975 cannot pass their nationality to their child. i have written into law merkle about this topic. i wonder -- i have written to angela merkle about this topic. i wonder if you see a likelihood of any changes in immigration law. >> i am out of my depth on that. i am not an expert in citizenship law. i know there have been several

reforms of the system that have passed through the german parliament over the last 10 years having to do with the issue you are talking about, as well as an effort to nationalize more of the immigrants that come, particularly from turkey. there was a long time when immigrants were coming from turkey and although they might have been third generation germans, they were not german citizens. that law has changed to try to create a pathway for workers who assimilate and speak german to become a german citizen. on your particular issue, someone going of a german mother, i do not know -- someone born of a german mother, i do not know. i think relations will have a boost as a result of a good visit. i think obama is paying more

attention to europe and europeans like that. but we are probably at a moment in history in which the world is changing. the west has been at the center of the global system since the beginning of the 19th century. with the rise of china, brazil, indonesia, and turkey, lots of countries emerging outside the western system, we are having to focus more on questions other than ourselves. >> any tensions that have been reported on between the countries? >> i >> i think the problem has been overstated. i think that merkel has not been the strong leader that obama is looking for. but if you say are there deep and fundamental divides in outlook between the united states and germany, i think the answer is no. when merkel makes it through this tough patch, i think she

will probably re-emerge as the strong leader that she was before and the strong leader that both europe needs and the united states would like to >> later, an update on a new food safety laws that f expands lawsda's authority on imported food. >> a couple of like hearings to tell you about tomorrow morning on c-span, the senate judiciary committee. that is at 10:00 a.m. eastern.

also a hearing for ryan crocker, a confirmation hearing. now, homeland security secretary janet hippolyta and no. -- janet napolitano. >> welcome. an anniversary were the event is we know took place just 1 mile south of here. i am michael walden.

we are delighted to partner with the law school to co-sponsor this event. i want to quickly think some of my colleagues who made this event happened and to do so much for our work. thank you for doing this and for all you do i want to emphasize that the program of which they are a part, our liberty and national security program, is called that for a reason. it is the liberty and the national security, not the liberty or national-security program. we believe very strongly that we can protect our country and protect our safety and our people and protect our bodies and our constitution. we appreciate very much that the secretary throughout her career

has demonstrated her loyalty to those same of all use -- to that same difficult but necessary balancing act that we as americans have to go through. the brennan center is a non partisan institute, part law firm, part advocacy group. we work on issues such as a voting rights, access to courts for the poor, and campaign finance. one of the ways we are most pleased to welcome her is that we had the chance to work with her in the past. i was lucky enough to know the secretary when she was the governor of arizona. at the brennan center, we were very pleased to welcome her as the first constitutional lecturer it years ago where she talked about arizona's publish

campaign financing system. she was reminding us just now when she met with the brennan center stuff upstairs that she was the first publicly financed governor in the country. we are representing the arizona in the u.s. supreme court in a case that could come down any day trying to defend the constitutionality of that statute. we believe that voluntary public financing like so many other campaign reforms are constitutional, have always been constitutional, and are necessary for a self-governing democracy. we are very honored to help defend that law which we hope to hear in a few days. not on a wooden podium, we hope to have some success. you will hear that the secretary is smart and thoughtful and tough and funny. i do not know that the

terrorists care about funny, but we appreciate that. to introduce her, i am very pleased to present to you the dean of nyu school of law, just recently entering his 10th year as dean of this institution, a member of the board of directors, we are very delighted to have him. we also welcome another board member who is here. a leader of our organization and a dean at this law school >> thank you and welcome. it is terrific to partner with the brand and center on this project and many have there's. they have done terrific work and has brought our students and faculty together. we feel so good about this partnership. they have a great leader who

received training at the school. i want to thank michael and the class of 1987. the attacks of 9/11 were transformative for some many institutions and people. nyu law school is no exception. in 2003, we created a security in response to be changes in the wake of the attacks. it quickly became one of the leading institutions where policy makers and government officials and journalists gathered to steady the major because security policy is used in a post-9/11 environment. we were already a leading voice on important issues such as voting rights, racial justice. at the time, and we've created a security program aimed at ensuring our commitment to national security and

fundamental freedoms. at no time has this mission been more important. we have done exceptional work in this area. as we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we are reminded of the challenges that are raised in nearly every day. sadly, we are also reminded that the security of nations persist. in what may be gone that extremism and terrorism are not. the mission of the department which secretary napolitano leads is as important today as when it was formed years ago. on this note, i am delighted to welcome janet napolitano, the secretary of the department of homeland's security. this is not the first time she

comes here. she gave a lecture in 2008. she also was here in 2004. we invited the governor to give the annual public service lecture. the premier service flexure named after a great alumnus, bob abrams who served as attorney general of new york. where now for timing, he may have been elected to the u.s. senate. gov napolitano accepted. we were excited. something got in the way. a hostage situation. hostages took over a prison. the governor had to cancel the trip to new york. what was wonderful is that she

appeared here by video. she arranged to answer questions from the audience by speaker phone. it was a wonderful moment for the law school. it was in this room. it had the same number of people. we understand the gravity of the situation. understood how much pressure the governor must have been under. it was wonderful in real time to be able to have a q&a with the governor who is handling this difficult situation. since last year, she became secretary napolitano. see is the third person and first woman to lead the department of, and security. it is the third largest cabinet of the department after the department of defense and veterans affairs. in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the government created

her apartment in one of the most sweeping review rear -- reorganizations. she is in charge of an organization with a mission ranging from the national reserve, and national borders, responding to threats. tonight she is here to discuss a topic different from the one she spoke about during her last visit. the ongoing evolution of tomcat -- homeland security efforts 10 years after the 9/11 attacks including lessons learned and the continuing effort to counter violent extremists and and preparing to respond to the ever evolving threats we face. she grew up in pittsburgh and albuquerque. she graduated as the first valedictorian. she received a j.d. from the university of virginia.

before it entering public office, she served as a law clerk. she practiced law at a bar firm in phoenix. she was the first woman attorney general of arizona and served as a district attorney. she was in tears second term as governor when she was chosen to be the next secretary. she was already recognized as a national leader in home and security and immigration. she was the first woman to chair in the national governors' association. she was named one the top five by time magazine. it is thanks to her collaboration with international allies and her longtime focus on the state and federal level that the secretary has earned the trust of people across the country and world. on behalf of the law school, i am pleased to welcome janet

napolitano for her talk entitled strength, security, and shared responsibility. preventing attacks the decade and the 9/11. welcome. >> it is a pleasure to be back here at n.y.u. to talk about where we stand and to talk about some of the issues confronting homeland's security almost 10 years after the attacks of 9/11. thank you, dean, for that introduction. thank you, michael, for allowing me to come back. thank you for being here this evening. since the beginning of this

year, i have been speaking across the country at various universities and colleges about homeland's security. it is a new and ever-evolving field. it is one that covers a range of topics. if you look at the department of home and security as it was created by congress, its responsibilities range from counter-terrorism to securing our borders, meaning air, land, and see. to immigration enforcement, a and noncontroversial area. to cyber security, which is a a fast-growing area, more and more important the state. to disaster response and

recovery. a terrorist attack another natural disaster. right now, we are responding to disasters and 28 states. a record-setting spring for tornadoes and flooding across our country. of have a vast anrange responsibilities but the priority for the department wise, is, and will remain the counter terrorism issue. how do we protect the people of the united states from being the victim of an attack again? how do we do that in a way that respects and embraces our own

rights and liberties? values that undergird our country and that we are sworn to, as attorneys and members of the cabinet, sworn to uphold. i want to talk with you about that facet of our work, counter- terrorism. i want to speak to you in that vein as a member of the cabinet. not as a student or faculty member but somebody who is dealing with these issues on a day in and day out basis. i believe that right now is an opportune time. an opportune time to discuss the ongoing threat said that our nation still faces. right now we are between two

events. one is the killing of osama bin laden . . the gap -- the other is the anniversary of 9/11. what we've learned from the osama bin laden operation confirms what i think many in this hall of new or suspected for a long time. al qaeda and its affiliates remain determined to target the west, particularly the united states, both here and there our interests abroad. as we move forward over the coming months to commemorate what happened on 9/11, and share the remarkable stories of the

men and women who perished in the attacks here and that the panel -- pentagon, as we decaled the progress the country has made over the past years, we have to recommit ourselves to the notion that, unfortunately, the world we inhabit is a world where it terrorists exist and where they continue to focus upon the western united states. where are we now in relation to where we stood on 9/11 court shortly before it? i am confident in saying that our country is stronger than we were a decade ago. we have bounced back from the worst attack ever on our soil.

we have made significant progress in many friends needed to protect ourselves. i think tarnation is smarter about the threats that we face. and how to bait -- best to deal with that. we have used this knowledge to make ourselves more resilient. to threats and disasters of all kinds. i want to pause on resilience. i mean the capacity to bounce back quickly after a crisis. like we saw at ground zero, and that the new york stock exchange, which reopened four days after the attack, now with investments that have been made and capacity building across our country, working with first

responders, state and local authorities, we have seen remarkable abilities that the state and local level to show resilience from mother nature. when you think about what is going on in alabama, mississippi, missouri, the ability to bounce back from the storms has been enhanced in part by the efforts we invested in to fight terrorism but that, in fact, allow us to respond better, more effectively, to a disaster. let me go back to my major point. the threats from and terrorism are still here. they are not going away. they are real and they are rapidly evolving. they demand our vigilance and the demand our willingness to learn and adapt.

perhaps that no other time in our recent history, this point between the attacks of 9/11 and when we will commemorate the 10th anniversary, is the time meant to say that we have to rethink how we deal with terrorism. understand that one of the evolutions we have made is to say that counter-terrorism is not just a government function. it is not just a federal function. it involves states, it involves a local law enforcement. it involves the first responders. it involves the private sector. it did involve individual citizens. it involves a sense of shared responsibility. that we as a country are all in this together.

while different parts of us leverage different types of strength, the fact of the matter is everyone has a stake in the safety of our people. as we move forward, we look back on the last 10 years and notice that i now be the third largest department of the government. it is part of the largest reorganization that has taken place in our nation's history. we have reoriented not just the agencies within dhs but also the department of justice and the fbi toward the prevention of terrorist acts. we have invested energy and resources to assimilate the knowledge we have gained and to it to inform share

and empower a broader, more inclusive range of people and institutions to become a part of the homeland security architecture of our country. as we move forward, that architecture, that sense of shared responsibility, is a guiding philosophy of how we will proceed. let me turn to the nature of these threats we are currently facing. the terrorist threat confronting the united states right now has evolved significantly over what was 10 years ago. in addition to the direct threats we continue to face from al qaeda, we also face growing

threats from other terrorist groups inspired by al qaeda and their ideology. they may have few operational connections but they certainly are inspired by al qaeda. we face a threat environment where violent extremism is neither constrained by the international border nor limited to any ideology. one of the most striking evolutions we have seen recently, we have seen this accelerate even during my 2 1/2 years, plots to attack the united states increasingly involve u.s. persons. american citizens. based on the latest

intelligence, we operate on the assumption that individuals prepared to carry out terrorist attacks may be in the united states now and could carry it out acts of violence with little or no warning. we have been dealing with an increasingly diffuse source of terrorism. a smaller methodology of attack. what do i mean? the big plot, the big conspiracy that involved years to develop, to train and have white school, to be able to what the night air carriers, those kinds of plots are not the kind we see now. what we see now are more

diffuse, smaller, quicker to happen events. they can evolve -- involve a single person. it is near impossible to stop a single person if there is no one with him that person a sharing information or thought. there is nothing at that point to interrupt until something occurs. as we move forward, we believe the increasingly savvy use of the internet, mainstream and social media, and information technology by groups like al qaeda to inspire those who live abroad or who live in our country now has added an additional layer of complexity to the problem of terrorism that

existed prior to 9/11. we should be very clear that now there is no single portrait of a would-be terrorists. research and experience that has it shown that an individual's ethnic or cultural background does not explain why a small number of individuals choose to take their radical beliefs down a violent path. we have no interest in policing or in profiling based on factors like religion. not only are those practices illegal, they are ineffective. that is why we need to be working with a broad range of partners to gain a better understanding of the behaviors,

the tactics, the techniques, be other indicators that could point to an anticipated activity. the best way to mitigate that activity from being successful. if he think about the nature of the evolving threats, what has changed, while we need to be focused on, that bears with it some implications. the fact that new kinds of threats can come from any direction and what with the warning of spends much of our thinking about terrorism prevention. that thinking has changed not just from a decade ago by even a few years ago. it does not mean that we still do not need a strong military or

topnotch intelligence operation. the very kind that was used to kill osama bin laden. nor does that mean we focus on the domestic. there is an international aspect to much of what we do in homeland security. when we look at the tactics and techniques that could be used to waged an attack, we have to think about aviation. might not be able to weapon is a plane -- weaponzie a plane, but what about smuggling explosives in your underwear and the changing planes in amsterdam and find over canadian airspace to get to the united states?

aviation. supply chain security. i was speaking about that very near. what do i mean? the movement of goods and commerce around the world. it is a possible avenue for a tax. for example, the intent at of yemen just this past october. also international in nature. information sharing about terrorism, human trafficing, science and technology, the things we are learning to better find, detect, mitigate against possible attacks. they'll have an international dimension to them. as we talk about the evolving threats, one of the implications is to recognize that even when you have the department of homeland security, it is

actually international. we are working in 75 countries. we have the third largest international footprint the bandied federal department. i have travelled to 20 countries, several of them multiple times. what we do need to do is recognize that with the ever evolving nature of the threats confronting us, we have to get away place where every part of our society is cognizant of the kinds of threats that are out there and empowered to take common sense steps to help counter that. how do we do that? first of all, we tried to reduce some of what i have just spoken about to a short phrase.

the short phrase i want you to walkout of here with, and this is the first one, homeland's security begins with hometown security. all of us are now stakeholders in the effort to keep families and communities, our businesses, our social networks, secured and a resilient. what does that mean? we have to have a distributed sense about security. how does that take a fact? what are some of the indicators? there are four key parts. we now have 72 fusion centers throughout the united states. a fusion center is a place where local, depending on where you

are, arco located so that information can be gathered and shared. and but that through the prism of all the eyes and ears at state and local law enforcement. we have greatly expanded something called the nationwide suspicious activity reporting initiative. it is an initiative that trains state and local law enforcement to recognize that behavior is an indicator is related to terrorism and other threats and that standardizes how those observations are documented, analyze, and shared back to the department of homeland security. back to the fbi. and then that can be taken and converted into products that can

be read shared -- re-shared throughout the united states. we are talking about the analytic capacity to bring intelligence from the rest of the country back into washington, d.c. the third aspect of how we are in powering people is the launch of the new national terrorism advisory system which we just recently did in april. the and the task is the replacement for the color code system. say goodbye to orange. we are not using that system anymore. it did not give people information. it did not get business is information. it did not give state and local law enforcement information. if you walked into an airport,

airports have been at the level or range since the year 2006. rather than have a color code system that nobody paid attention to, except maybe jay leno or david letterman, to have a system where we presume that the base level of risk now incorporates ongoing risk. our base of all is hired -- base level is hire that was that 9/11. if there is credible information about a threat, the base level can be elevated or described as imminent. when we do that, that warning can be limited by geography, sector, any number of ways.

importantly, under the system, any warning given expires on its own after two weeks unless the review of the intelligence suggested need to be continued. that is important for a practical reason -- once somebody raises a threat level, it is difficult to take an act to to bring it down. when you have is an ever- increasing pile of levels. people do not pay attention anymore. the whole idea is to have a system that communicates information that people pay attention to that is relevant to real time situations. finally, the fourth element of the shared responsibility is, if you can see something, say something. something.