is back on its feet, that putin brought stability, but rather there is an instability and insecurity. that is what they are focusing on. they are undercutting be message that the government is trying to get across, regardless of whether they are trying to get -- whether there is a successful attack. if there is a successful attack, that changes the narrative even more. there is this low-level chatter that takes the attention of everybody's notice initiates who are looking at the olympics. it is to bolster the prestige of the regime. i would like to add something to that. -- putin hasere is been very successful, in the eyes of many in his party. olympics eccentrics it. it takes the focus off of the

issues going on inside russia. some things going on inside russia are quite problematic. -- one oftin the reasons why he is most popular is because russians are experiencing a time of prosperity. level of abouta four percent growth, which is ok, but not where they wanted to be. his economic growth has fallen close to zero. one -- 1.3%. then it was close to zero. the sense that he brought prosperity to russia -- if the you are go badly, then disgruntled, and people are looking around, and they are

saying, actually, this guy, things are not going so well economically right now in russia. the if there is a dip in oil price, which is so important for the russian economy, then they start another scenario where his leadership is really under much more pressure than one would have imagined. of focusingelement on the successful russia. come to russia, and see with the new russia is like. it is completely different than what the old soviet union was like. this is not your father's buick. this is the new russia. it is one reason why they spent so much money. a lot of it has been embezzled or whatnot. and it is as a showcase. >> one point. the question about protest is an interesting and important one.

in planning the security of any event, whether it is the olympics or anything else, you have to account for potential disruptions. to the extent that there's been landing, i am assuming that there is planning around everything from low-level criminality all the way to high- level terrorism. areetween there, unanticipated gatherings of individuals that could be disruptive. your question is a good one because we have been focused on the terrorist threat. but any security service looking at a major event like this is looking at a whole suite of potential disruptions that have to be taken into account both singular lewdly and then in singularly and then in combination. i am with the hispanic link

news service in washington. what, short of any kind of disruption or attack, might cause the united states to withdraw, from your perception, from the olympics. secondly, what do you know about what preparations mexico and latin american countries are safety ofensure the their athletes? ?> that is a question for juan >> do you want to do this in spanish? know, specifically, what the latin american countries are doing? usually what happens it that you have a reliance on the host country to provide accurate security communications. usually, most delegations have their own protocols. the u.s. is best in class in that regard and probably the

most demanding international player. to answer your first question, i absent an actual attack, what would be disruptive to the u.s. participation -- the only thing i can imagine is that if there were serious credible threats directed at u.s. athletes or venues that u.s. athletes would be attending. combined with the fact that the russians are not sharing the information about what is being done to counter it, and the sense that there is an inability to counter it ourselves. if there's a real sense of serious risk to our athletes that is imminent, that is material, and it cannot be countered, then you will start to see discussion in the situation room about what is to be done. that kind of decision is taken incredibly seriously. nobody wants to see the olympics

disrupted. pulling american athletes out would be disastrous for everybody i think. and it would give the terrorists a victory. you would want to make that decision very carefully. and you only want to do it in the most serious of situations. thankould like to everybody for coming out. you can follow our twitter feed. we will have a transcript out later, which we will release on twitter and on our home page. csis.org. thank you for coming this morning. >> transcript? >> tomorrow? >> >> mike mullen talks about how

the debt affects national security. and the swearing-in of chris christie. after that, a conversation with stephen breyer the supreme court justice. >> on the next washington journal, we will focus on the u.s. automobile industry with live coverage from the d.c. autoshow. into -- include david strickland.nd david we will also speak with representatives of ford and general motors. join the conversation on facebook. i have a message -- i see

myself as a person trying to understand and situate myself. the idea came to me when i was airng some lectures at the force academy in colorado springs. , willthe very nice forceed, broad -- the air officer had lots of chats with me that i found in trusting. he told me he was a liberal. any impression from my mind that the academy is right wing and full of strange radical biblical fundamentalists. he tells me he was in favor of immigration. but, he said, when people come

to this country, they should learn the native language. i didn't think he was speaking about comanche. i agree. everybody should learn spanish. >> the settlement of the united states from a hispanic perspective. our america on afterwards. part of tv this weekend on c- span two. toonline, he still had time weigh in on the liberty amendment. read the book and join the conversation. click on book club to enter the conversation. >> mike mullen said the biggest threat to the debt. the joint chiefs of staff look to the concerned veterans of america about the debt and spoke about the nsa. this is an hour.

these remarks are about an hour. veterans of to the america for putting on these events. of events,o a lot and i think the quality has been very high at the events i have been at. hopefully we will keep to that this morning. he needs no introduction, he was operationsf naval from 2005-2007. joint chiefsas the chairman, capping a very successful decade. thank you for being here this morning. we'll have a brief discussion, t, --about the deb

>> it was a random question that the reporter asked me. [laughter] >> always a mistake, answering those questions. a random reporter in the pentagon said what is the greatest threat we face in the united states? he said the greatest threat is our national debt. that got a lot of attention. our national debt is a little above her team trillion dollars -- was a little above $13 trillion, and is now above $17 trillion. what would you say now? >> thank you for doing this. i think what you are doing is critical and i would say it is good you are young because this is a long haul. it is not going to happen uickly, but leaves persist --

please persist. this seat affords me an opportunity to watch my car gets towed away because it is in the snow emergency route, i am sure. [laughter] i was telling bill earlier, i cannot remember the for him -- that was there when the reporter asked me that question. but i have given it a lot of thought. from a very strategic level i believe that the military is part of the solution to better outcomes throughout the world. and i higher level it is about the economy. i focus a lot of my time on whoationships with countries were key economic engines in the world. weather was rebooted -- whether

it was brazil, china, or the middle east, or india, i try to spend some of my time in that regard. i believe that you can create stability in a peaceful environment, people's standard will improve and the economy will thrive. i really did believe that as the went upker substantially. people were doing handstands as it went down as if it went away, and it has not. we cannot be the country that we are capable of, in a time in the world where we as needed -- are needed as much as we are, if we send ourselves into oblivion. we will not make the investments, and we will continue to lose what i consider to be credit, if you will, on

the international stage. it is something that has to turn around. it is something that will take second five the part of everybody -- sacrifice on the part of everybody. you could take the whole pentagon budget, pour it into the debt, and it would have a minimum impact. it has to be the entitlement beast that we all know about -- piece that we all know about, and have talked about for years. from aecifically, retirement standpoint, the whole coal issue right now. means tested be for my health care payments, i'm happy to be tested for other entitlements. i do not want to hurt the 20 who are justts

bumping along. those who can afford and will more need to pay a little more, as far as i concert -- and concerned -- am concerned. i get asked what keeps me awake at night? number one is still the debt because we have not done much about it. the paul ryan and patty murray budget deal was in reaction to that was based on the judgment concerns and partly on misunderstanding of what the actual proposal was. it shows how hard it is to form environment -- reform entitlements. >> i would like to see them means tested. i'm very conflicted about that, because when i was asked these

questions on active duty, when we look at retirement for the military, for example, all of the chiefs, myself, and vice- chairman lined up in this position that we supported that long-term, but we wanted to grandfather it to anyone who had had an actual contract for their career. those that clearly indicated that they may stay for 20 years evolution grandfather any change like that. any moneynot increase into 15, or 2016, or for a significant amount of time? . i get back to that we need to means test it, and everyone has to pitch in. we talk about entitlements in so many different -- it has the

oweific meaning of "you me this." i think it has a broad definition at different levels. people who are doing very well at the heart of their envelope of life, they feel entitled to do this whether they are or not. degree, for ofme this -- i -- and owed am owed this. >> ever since he made that we have not really had intent but reformed the but spending has leveled off. we have not really had entitlement reform, but the spending has leveled off.

are you alarmed about the $17 trillion,f and can be kindly move on it -- can we finally move on it? >> i was delighted with the budget agreement, that it took place. i worry that it sends the signal that this is over, and this short term is out there in so many ways brought the country -- throughout the country. >> i'm a glass half full guy in it's the so i'm hoping beginning of being able to turn it around. have the same instinct. i do think your comment there startling enough to people that it did have a good effect. let's hope that both parties get more serious and willing to make sacrifices for that.

what about the other things that keep you awake at night? five.isted two is he debt and education system. talking about problems with it for a good 20, 30 years and some significant under taken in terms of in particular charter schools, reform.a and education but by in large it's still in very bad shape and almost -- i mine, there's a parallel to the debt issue in that you have to have resources to invest for the future. if you don't have them you can't -- you're not gonna have much of a future. we have to have an education at am which is functioning very, very junior, very, very -- beginning, if you will, because i think the competitive advantage that america has is right here. we'll be st in that, okay and if it continues to gonna be re not

competitive. you can't -- at least -- i've some time in the education sector. you can't scale charter schools to the public school system in country. i don't know what the answer is. 'm one who believes you got to do this through teachers. they were the most impactful as a kid, y life among coaches and parents and astors, et cetera, and i think somehow we have to channel that. well.n't pan very i taught for a year up in princeton and i didn't run into a graduate that would go teach quite frankly. that doesn'twell. i taught for mean there aren't any. it's not the path that so many choose because it's not valued in the country. that around or, gain, this very slow erosion will wake up one day and we'll what happened. third thing is the political paralysis here. washington mostly

since the mid '90s and i asked some are d historians quick to say we've been through this before. two years ago i asked that said, well when? they said 1938 or 1939. so that wasn't overly uplifting in that conversation. but about a year ago i asked the of another n historian and he said, well, we have. i said when was the last time? said the civil war. this is really tough and i think everybody knows that. i don't know how it gets broken. i worry that we will continue to will.e hole, if you i hope that somehow the in the country at large can figure out a way to et us moving in a much more positive direction before we event.me catastrophic so that concerns me a great deal. the fourth is cyber. talk much about it but

it scares me to death. was ght that when i chairman. i understand how capable it is, is, nothal the potential gone rom a penalty perspective but from a national perspective. shutting our f grid and financial system and mpacting significantly our logistics and almost has no bounds. euptkeupbs e target epbts over christmas where the reports were forty million and then 70 million. and eaks to the scale capability in the cyber world. i talk about it in leaders. you got to have the tech types ecause line leaders make decisions on people and policies.s and that is of and capability in the huge concern. the last one is just veterans.

well for doing very our veterans who fought the wars. just because i was chairman in the iraq and afghanistan war. on iraq and vily afghanistan. to very, ming back very tough employment numbers. the economy is -- while it's umping along and getting better, high aring them throughout the country is difficult. unemployment numbers are about from 18-24 year olds are about average. national half of them are married. they need to put food on the table. 'm not convinced you can do it from washington. what i try to do is engage local leaders in communities throughout the country. has got to lead in an urban community to customize the for veterans focusing on health, education and employment and remember that these spouses well een extraordinary as

in these wars. ypically they're two income families. i find this quote, unquote, sea of good will on the part of the people.n you need local leaders to galvanize that and we've seen ignificant progress in certain parts of the country. coming worry they're home and they're leaving the military at about a thousand a day which is normal. hiring them at about 100 a day and it's better than vietnam and in the past in many ways but we're just beginning. come out of afghanistan america didn't have to buy into these wars. in ica doesn't have a stake these wars. so combat troops are out in a ew months and america will accelerate away from our veterans. giving visibility to this and this young group and it's 2.2 million men and woman seen.st i've ever i did it for a few decades. ands down they're the best and

they're gonna make a difference in the future. i see them by the thousands gonna make a huge difference investing in them is a great investment. that's where i spend a lot of my free time. and thank you t for spending your time on that. it's so important. there the distractions are some people who serve 20 along, but ing actually the people who need the most help are the people getting 8, 12 years and they don't have the retirement provided and especially if who don't isted guys have a college degree. i don't know that we're set up well, in the business world or civic world to help them as well as we can. y sense the officers do pretty well. they have college degrees and to help them find things but i worry more -- >> i love my officers but that's not my focus. when you look at the pyramid it's the sergeant and the second

officers.y that's the bulk. we've seen certainly in our lives c.e.o.'s from vietnam, rom korea, that's where they started. strode they'rely strong group of talented individuals. it's that investment and they don't want to handout. -- we need to just guide them to the opportunities. knock ey get in, they'll it out of the park.officers. that's the bulk. we've seen certainly in our lives c.e.o.'s from vietnam, from i really believe that. it's getting them to that and translating their skills. edics or coreman have to go to state x, y or z in the country and they can't -- they've been almost surgeons on the they can't and even -- they have to do the whole recertification process to become a paramedic in a given country.roughout the there are lots of examples of those. some actually making tkpw progress there. the fact is the hundred or so

are getting hired, all of those for about 17% of who join the military that stay in for 20 years. it's been that for a long time. effort, ia significant hope, that is underway to really the at should we reform whole retirement system. i applaud that. that doesn't mean i have an to take away the 20 year retirement. didn't go once ask very well. but, can you vest young people a earlier is the question; for example,. there is a lot of work that done and the retirement system is very generous. the benefits right now compared to the mid '90s and this is ipartisan we're in much better shape than we were back then. and en you're downsizing pushing people out there is something weird about a system the 20 year es

service and in a sense almost no or no retirement value on 12 or 14 years and that is an item.sting reform you mentioned cyber. planned to talk about it. n.s. ontroversy about the a. you dealt with these matters at the highest level. that you want to reassure they're doing the they're supposed to be doing or one of stories?rmed by these ns i spend a lot of time at a. they're extraordinary group of professionals. to be inside all the time. but what i knew from what i knew were charged ey with -- there were two aspects it. they were complying with the law and this interest of the america at the in of their list and it was

many cases a very beneficial undertaking in terms of figuring threat was. i've said for a long time i hink the debate -- i hate what snowden did. i think snowden's a traitor. that said i think the debate important sued is an debate. this debate about the balance security.rivacy and it was long coming. i was worried quite frankly we cyber 9/11 rough a efore we had it where the law changed immediately and the pendulum swings too far, so i healthy debate -- i think it was two congressional two budgets ago, that lieberman and collins were utting forward the first homeland security discussions, didn't go very far but we need there'snue that and now more life and oxygen in that approach. a very healthy

debate. the threat's not going away. the danger is out there. that?o how do we balance >> afghanistan, you mentioned were you chairman obviously surge.the paid very close to attention to that. that i think accomplished a lot within the limits of what it in a year or two. how worried are you about what year? this what do you think should happen? should we leave residual force there? the -- can the be?uation >> i have appreciation for how issues are.obs and so i worry -- i mean i worry a about the region. afghanistanuld like

and pakistan to go away. don't think they're gonna go away soon. challenges that exist there from a terror standpoint civility standpoint are going to continue. do we, the is how and what's frankly, the united states's position in term outerms of longer comes. as important as the secure in afghanistan, to train the police and the issues, forces, the larger issues for my prospective deal with isgle to the government and the corruption. fghan citizen backing up a corrupt government that undermines our position

though we're there to help, quote, unquote. not a military peace. that's the political piece or government piece and i think that addressing that in a much long ggressive way in the term, we'll have to figure out how to do that. one of the things, i think we'll have to figure out in the future ow do we deal with corrupt people and corrupt governments? done itt than how we've in the past. corrupt.hey're too we get undermined. in a time that is generally chaotic, i sort fall back on the values that are true to as a country and that kind of framework when we don't know what do but make sure they're kinds of things that freedom and democracy and human lack of corruption

and i'm not saying we need -- we anywhere and totally eliminate corruption. the idea. how do you -- there are different kinds and how do you ddress it from a policy standpoint? and how do you lead in that space in the long run. be problematic. the whole issue of leading a horse, that is a smart move from the standpoint of reating some kind of continued relationship and longer term stability. i don't know. outcome now what the is. understanding what is in president karzai's mind is very difficult. >> one of the last questions. i' iraq as well. you all hoped to leave residual iraq.in

how much do you regret that that didn't -- how much of a price do paying that that wasn't able to be done? i mean, i'm watching iraq just like everybody else. certainly disappointed. i worry a great deal about the politics there. -- that's what prime minister is going through on the shocked. i'm not i wouldn't want to overstate the quote, unquote, impact of a residual force if you will on what's going on there. -- that was ainly all generally pre syria which igniter for the whole resurgence offing a kaied including al-qaeda in iraq. and this goesieve military w does the fit in and force fit in. -- there are ical

political endeavors, diplomatic outcom rs to create an and then you figure out to use and i feel that way for syria as well. structure, the diplomatic structure, needs to be there. it's not perfect but at least needs to be there that's stopping the getting those -- camps -- of all those who are out of the country getting homes ple back to their and then if the military needs to be a part of that that's it's other rry about easy to pick up a stick and do what ing and figure out happens after the case. iraqi that way -- i mean, saw there is discussions about giving them assistance. i think that's a good opening. leaders. lot of their here is an opportunity to do

that and certainly won't want to see it fall apart. >> final question. you were also chairman when president obama announced the pivot to asia. i was in asia myself a couple of months ago and i would say friendly leaders there, they sort of welcome the idea of this. convinced e they're there's that much reality behind it. i was struck how nervous they what they see as fairly or unfairly a sense of .s. retreat and withdraw elsewhere. it reminded me what happens in the middle east doesn't stay in middle east. when we say there is a red line other 't do anything, people think gee, what about our red lines here. i'm curious. time in asia t of and china. your general sense what is happening there and what we there? be doing > i actually visited last fall and i had the same reaction from our friends in japan and south particular that there

was -- first of all, the tension as much higher than i expected it to be particularly between japan and china. mean i've been to japan a lot and i just -- i heard nothing more -- i didn't hear about else except china. back to what i said earlier focusing on the economies. that's an economic zone that the world and needs to be stable. we've got the second biggest world in china and fourth in japan. we need to be engaged. supportive of the re-balance if you will. that said, middle east isn't going to go away. i think we're in a for -- i don't know how long, 30, 40 year run here. one of the things that we, americans don't understand well enough is what it's like to middle east and to think about a single thing every day when you wake up which whether you're in the village or in the palace and when we havens and

these leadership changes that occur in these countries, it's libya or iraq or yemen or in syria if that turns out, we just sort of expect another leadership to go up. they're not there. those leaders that are currently there have killed them or out ofled them all the country. that long standing investment required to create leaders and create institutions i think we need to be modest in terms of what we mean by democracy and taking steps democracy in terms of our expectations when changes like this occur. the middle east isn't going away. re-balancing i think is very important but i don't think we and not focus -- middle to focus in the east. from the security standpoint, probably all the

resources we'll have in this downturn. it will turn. at budgets d look through decades, it will turn at this point but we won't have a lot of ability to tphepbt.the couldn't we're about year three of a ten year cycle where the budget comes back and we should stay engaged as best we can. but the impact is really important. nd then our relationships with particular in the acific, can he emerge in the future in a construct way with china. a id a -- i completed commission on energy security, having an energy security policy with danny blair and mike and and john belushi and john hanna.

opportunity in the energy world to work with china s they become the biggest consumer in the world. we found resources -- the right abundance in the united states, not energy independence. to control e enough the price of a barrel of oil. that's the middle east. saudi arabia o be and/or iran and/or iraq depending on understand what in countries in the tpaoutder and what happens with things like sanctions. have a policy and a strategy that recognizes. great there is a opportunity to help china in that regard in the long run. economic relationship with china we don't need to get into a fight with china. mean it won't happen. but that shouldn't be the objective. really the focus is important. brand new leader in china. brand new leader in south korea. leader or second time japan.leader in

and it's very, very sense. -- it's ry worrisome very worrisome and we need to stay engaged. s we isolate out of war which is normal for us as a country, i careful need to be very about what we isolate ourselves from. out there expectation hat the united states lead and whether someone loves us or hates us they have that expectation. thingse not meeting that are changing and i don't know hat we can predict what the outcome will be except generally worse than it's been depending what region of the world you're talking about. >> i think that's such an important message because there se kraoet saoet where we would like to effect us and not to focus. we just kind of liberate ourselves from that and

friend of ours wrote, we may in the middle east but the middle east is not losing interest in us. it's a message people don't want has ar because it implications of doing certain but i think it's an important message for the country. repeat a couple of the questions and then we'll take questions? pete's got questions from irtual watchers around the country and then we'll take questions from real people here. them they would. only a couple and then we'll open it up for sure. chairman, the first is from robert from texas. he's active military down in texas. we've got an issue when the congress continues to buy tanks that the armory argcargo planes

that they send to the bone yard. the armed forces assert themselves on what is needed on spending reforms. > one of the things that i was you talk about acquisition reform. --ould fill this room >> or you could empty this room by talking about for 2 or 3 hours. lot of money and i don't have an answer. spend a lot of my life in the money and program world. it's incredibly difficult. i think it has to be done in congress. services have a great and to ical part with respect that as well. my own view is that we make much more expensive because requirements creep over time. on the faith of it saying let's just detach a ongresswoman orman from their

constituent is a pipe dream. have seen it with persistent pressure over time and those would argue it takes too long and it does. keep that have to ressure on in terms of m one tanks or cargo planes or -seventeens where we had great arguments -- debate about how many do we need. you need to go through all that. if we could accelerate that process, that would be good. i think it would make everybody -- put everybody in a better place. ut you can't disregard who we are as a country which that lack of representative represents their district and they'll represent them. >> absolutely. mc cain called it the military congressional complex which it can be. point on reform, if that significances reform is

difficult, the spending mentioned ou others.ents and you got to please your own backyard before you go to others. most tangible ways told attempt to find the way cut the fat the point isn't budget but d.o.d. getting rid of inefficiencies. about something like auditing the pentagon. what are tangible groups can take? >> i think the biggest inside the pentagon that they're really things. one is that the overhead is just grown enormously. order of it's about twice what it was 10 or 20 years ago. i can't remember exactly what date was. we need to reduce that. just too easy to cut tooth. o that's where people end up

going. we need to be -- getting at the piece is very, very hard. there are twice as many the penal rking in pentagon as there were 10 or 20 years ago. can't get at that what happens is we just cut the size force. fully 50-60% of the funds are tied up in the people. to make changes you got to go where the money is and the money is there. the force will get a little smaller. i don't know how small. acrosshope it isn't just the board and everybody take the because we need to ustomize our force for the world we're living in and learn and essons of these wars not incorporate them into the future. we have a bad history in this ignoring the lessons and just moving forward and then again.ng all over

so we need to -- what translates to the future and what doesn't. technology and how many people what are the any ilities, does it have relevance. we thought it didn't have any relevance in these wars until it went down downtown baghdad and then it was pretty relevant. easy answer here. but i'd start with the overhead. and i worked on these efficients. the system revolts when you do that. story, gordon england came in and i was the budget 2001.r for the navy in he said we'll cut 10,000 navy.ans out of the i took the money out and three down one r we were civilian. because there are senior civilians who have worked there their whole life and they the system and they're great people. but it's how do you get at kind of problem.

tough.ery, very push >> my question is there's been s been much written recently about a coming war between the active force in the national guard and reserves. the national guard reserves spent 27% of the dod budget and 40% of deployment days. what do you think is ahead of this battle between the reserve force and the active-duty with fewer resources? and how do you think they're reserve forces are going to fare? >> i had no preparation for dealing with the national guard and reserve and active forces but actually having handled the marine corps money and aviation,

-- it is all about money in the end. i had some background in this and i worked hard as chairman to bring these groups together and bring the leaders together routinely. i was really disturbed in a story that i saw on the 17th of december that was talking about airplanes, not surprisingly. i think leaders in all organizations, active guard and reserve, have to figure out what the future holds. i worry a great deal about hanging onto the past. eventually, you going to do yourself in. as money gets tighter, i worry a great deal about that fight separating the services. congress --ed in and back to my navy and marine corps piece, i didn't want congress solving that problem for me. i wanted to solve it and

eventually the head of the navy with jim conway who i work for -- the other thing is when we do that constantly, we are just training our kids. when they grow up, they don't know any other behavior. it perpetuates itself. there is a rich history here. i think the answer that is more efficient is overstated. we would be nowhere in these wars without the guard and reserve. they have been incredible. their rotations have been more than they expected. at the same time i think it is going to slow down. the leadership has to focus on this. spokesmen from the past saying this is the answer. i think everybody has got to be all in to solve these difficult budget issues as opposed to creating great fishers -- fissures inside a service or between the army and the guard

because if you do that, those that actually get to solve the andlem, they write a check nobody wins. john? admiral for your remarks. going back to your original topic about the budget, my question is twofold. was sequestration a good or bad idea? influx ofth the people on medicaid under the affordable care act, can we say that the affordable care act, obamacare, is actually enhancing the entitlements that you say should be reformed? >> i am not smart enough on the actually, onend

of the areas i stay out of his obamacare. [laughter] one, i am not very smart on it. i have read a lot about it -- secondly, we are just finding out in execution what it really is. i think predicting what the impact will be in terms of health care for those men and women in service and those who have retired, i just don't know. that said, back to my experience in the budget world, the numbers as i recall, the amount of money in the dod budget in 2001 for health care was $19 billion. was $51 i think it billion. it is going to $65 billion, the last number i had, in 2015. it is not sustainable. i used to say we were going to have a healthy, small force. it just keeps going through the roof. testified and supported an

increase in co-pays for years. in terms of those who could afford it, we could test that but we need to do that. we are just trading off the size of our force. we are trading off the capabilities of our force for billions of dollars of health care. it is good health care, i am not arguing that. how that fits into where we are going as a country other than costs continue to rise, i am not sure. as you said that, the silver lining of sequestration was that spending was reduced. i hated it. i know what that does inside a service in terms of the impact. people, the green eye shade men and women start pulling back

money far before anybody really knows it. they don't have any kind of certain outcome. they don't know where we are going. so yes, we have a budget now, a budget agreement where there isn't going to be sequestration for a year i think, but i can tell you inside the services and the pentagon, nobody knows where this is going. our budget that is over there budget based on the 2014 which was based on a continuing resolution from fiscal year 2000 well with no certainty. plan more trying to than 12 months in advance, you have nothing to plan against. the downside of that in terms of uncertainty was just incredible. the other thing -- i do worry about this and i would be interested in your view -- after every war, we lose really good people. i worry a great deal about sergeants best young

and junior officers after these wars. particularly as the economy improves, they are going to leave. we can't afford to do that. we need to keep the best that we have in the military, not just numbers but qualities have got to be there. went intoion execution -- we were halfway through the fiscal year. where -- you have to go to where the money is. where do you get it? you take it out of training. you're not flying airplanes, driving ships or running up tank miles in training and these .o.'s areis -- j saying, this -- they can't maintain their systems and that is the easiest place to get money. it has a retention impact that i

think we don't really understand. i am not a fan of sequestration. getting our arms around somehow reducing the spending was important. about thisome thing is there were extremes from both parties that met on the other side and found common ground to put that in effect. isn't the bipartisan approach that i grew up with. it needs to be on this side, the more reason side of the world not the extreme side. is, thense on that defense department didn't do as good a job. how much damage it was doing operationally -- you could take $20 billion out of the budget but to do it in the incredibly arbitrary way that sequestration did, unless you were an insider,

you didn't understand it. i got a little understanding talking to people in the pentagon on that. say, easy to sit there and let's just cut some of the fat but that is not how it works. >> the mechanisms and how we spend money are arcane. you lose interest. and about the third sentence you're trying to explain this to somebody, they are not interested. the real impact is on people's lives. >> over here? young lady there ? morning, i am the executive director of a foundation which is dedicated to bridging civilian-military divides. i have a question for admiral mullen about the balance of philanthropy in government and what some of the challenges are to that. we find in the work that we do

to leverage the full spectrum of resources across the country, it typically takes us anywhere between five to 10 organizations to cover one family. you talk a lot about that sea of goodwill. i am wondering how you see that balance play out. about america moving away from those who served because the war is over. i do see this sea of goodwill filled with great americans who want organizations in local governments throughout the country that want to figure out how to do this. we have got tens of thousands of these organizations chasing the same dollar. we need to consolidate efforts. that is hard. passionate people about their organization have to figure out how to either incorporate other leaders from other organizations that are focused in the same way

so that we can reduce the overall overhead with respect to and have an impact of the dollars that are out there. once you get into philanthropy a little bit, there is a lot of it. there are a lot of causes. how does the veterans' piece of this fit in? the colonel that used to work for me started the dixon center here in town. he is focused on these kinds of issues. i don't think there is anybody in the country that knows more about this space then he does per se. it is that consolidation that we see. i will give you a specific example. we convened a group that focused on scholarships for kids, for military kids. 30 or 40e organizations there. there were some organizations that couldn't figure out how to

get a scholarship. there were some organizations that had nothing but fellowships and didn't have the money to get it. of these people. how do we get them to work together? that was the idea. you can do that in education, health care, employment, all of those kind of things. -- i think leaders in the community and these charitable organizations need to figure out how to help us get to some consolidated level. thank you -- >> this is jane. -- is a gold star [applause] thanksain, i want to say for all the sacrifice that you and your husband made for our

country. i promised you before that we will never ever forget. >> thank you. >> now ask me an easy question. [laughter] >> that means the world to me and thank you for your support of the goldstar community. admiral mullen came to my husband's burial at arlington. one of my favorite things that you read about is the civilian military divide. as a war widow, it has been something that has been very close to me, trying to relate to -- civilian can't relate to any of us and there is a huge divide. i want to ask you as the war think --a end, how you it has got me a little emotional here, i apologize -- how do you think we can close that divide? >> mama the things that i wasned as a senior officer

about our culture. the reason what jane is doing and others who are working to support goldstar families is because i found that our culture is a culture of, if you are here, we love you. onyou are not, please carry whatever it is. the best and worst example of that were goldstar families. my wife in particular the would families --ldstar and i would as well -- found that the support for them was stunningly thin. wasmain line of connection the military member who had passed away. we have tried to keep focus on that and jane and others have now put themselves in positions to remind us to make sure that we don't ever forget those who paid that baltimore -- ultimate

sacrifice. a -- i am a vietnam vet so i grew up in a draft. i remember all of that and how bad it was to be disconnected from the country in terms of being politically blamed for the , the quality of the force was almost not comparable. compared to the quality of the force we have today, it is night and day. all volunteer. people -- we are out of neighborhoods. we are not teaching in schools. we are not coaching teams. people in the northeast don't know us anymore. there is a good reason that we did that but that is overhead i think you have to pay as opposed

to becoming more isolated. wars, i get to these worry that america has paid us very well, the compensation is very good, please go off and fight our dirty little wars and let us get on with our lives. one of the lessons i have learned is, we need to figure out a way to get americans to buy into those, into them. i don't know. i don't have an answer for that. i am not a fan of going back to a draft but i am a fan of creating national service for every 18-24-year-old for two years because i just haven't that hasn'tear-old benefited from that kind of service and commitment. then they can get on with their lives. i like the effects of the draft meaning it affects everybody. i would like to keep the quality up and that is a challenge. is a real inflection point in terms of how we do that in the future.

i think the outcome of the military becoming more and more isolated from the american people is a disaster for america. >> on that note, since we are out of time, i think it is appropriate to let jane have the last question. one reason we have been pleased to partner is precisely out of this concern. they are not active-duty anymore. trying -- i being , i think you're doing a great job of trying to tie together what has become a worrisome divide between those who serve and have served and the rest of us who observe from afar. i want to thank you so much for taking the time to be here. [applause] thank you all for coming. [captions copyright national

cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> in a few moments, the swearing-in of new jersey governor chris christie. and a little less than an hour, a conversation was supreme court justice stephen breyer. on the next "washington journal," we will focus on the u.s. automobile industry. our guest includes david shepardson, detroit news washington bureau chief. and the former administrator of the national highway safety administration. we will speak with

representatives of general motor, four, and toyota. live onton journal" is c-span everyday at 7:00 eastern a.m. join the conversation on facebook and twitter. on c-spanoverage tomorrow includes the 41st annual march for life at noon eastern at the national mall in washington. at 2:30 p.m., kathleen sebelius is expected to provide an update on the affordable care act to the newly -- to the u.s. conference of mayors. a i would like to add personal note in regard to an issue that has been of great concern to all americans over the last year. i refer, of course, to the investigations of the so-called watergate affair. provided to i have the special prosecutor voluntarily a great deal of material.

i believe that i have provided all the material that he needs. to conclude his investigations and to proceed to prosecute the guilty and to clear the innocent. i believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end. one year of watergate is enough. [applause] five decadesck at of notable state of the union addresses from lbj to george w. bush. sunday at 3:00 eastern part of american history tv on c-span three. it is leading up to president rock obama's 2014 stated the address -- a state of the union address. >> new jersey governor chris was reelected to a second term last november. he was sworn in today. this is what a little less than an hour.

>> good morning. i am the cochairman of the inauguration, along with my partner, todd kristi. i want to thank you for braving the elements to join us this morning. as i was driving down here, my job this morning is to introduce our master of ceremonies, as you can see by your program. i appreciate you braving the elements to join us this morning. i was driving down here, the master of ceremonies and i were, telephoning and texting back and forth among making sure one of us will be here. i want the record to show i beat him. when chris christie and i were practicing law many moons ago in cranford, new jersey, there was a young lawyer at the end of the hall who was always there before we got there and always there when we left. it is a great lesson to you

young lawyers out there. the lawyer at the end of the hall went on to be an assistant u.s. attorney, general counsel to the governor to my attorney general of the state of new jersey, and is now the former united states senator for the state of new jersey. it is my honor to introduce our master of ceremonies today, the honorable jeff. [applause] >> good morning, everybody, and thank you, bill, but you did not beat me by much. ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. it is my honor to welcome you to the inauguration of governor chris christie and the lieutenant governor, kim guidano. it is my pleasure to introduce to the stage, lieutenant

governor and his family. [applause] [applause] and now, ladies and gentlemen, before you sit down -- [laughter] would you please join me in welcoming governor chris christie and the christie family? [applause]

[cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause]

[applause] >> to introduce the pledge of allegiance, it is my pleasure to welcome the president of the new jersey state senate, senate president, steve swinney. [applause] >> governor, a heartfelt congratulations and i get the honor of calling up the governor's youngest daughter bridget to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. bridget?

[applause] >> [in unison] i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> good afternoon. i am the speaker of the general assembly and i want to welcome you today to trenton, for governor chris christie's inauguration. it is with my distinct honor i announced the playing of the national anthem by the 63rd army band. ♪["star-spangled banner"]

♪ [applause]

>> everyone can be seated. i would like to call up the governor's son, patrick christie. [applause] >> good afternoon. my name is patrick christie and i have the honor of introducing the former headmaster of the joe barton school. please join me in welcoming him to deliver the invocation. [applause] >> as you can tell, patrick, by that applause that your dad got, that he is loved. let us now bow our heads and

pray for god's blessing. lord, we gather today to ask your blessings on our governor, lieutenant governor, senators, and members of the assembly, jurists, and all citizens of this great state of new jersey. we ask your blessings on all who serve the common good for the people of this state. we ask you, lord, with the author of the first book of kings, to give your servants an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, and to seek justice and peace and security. we ask your blessings on all who govern and protect us, and all who serve us in any way in public office. we ask your blessings on all gathered here.

on our families, on the christie family and on all families in this state. and lord, we ask your blessings on those most vulnerable, and on all the children of this world. may the lord bless you and keep you. may the lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. may the lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. amen. >> please, be seated. it is now my honor to introduce stuart radnor, the chief justice of the supreme court of the state of new jersey, who will administer the oath of office to governor christie. [applause]

>> i, chris christie, elected governor of the state of new jersey do solemnly promise and swear that i will support the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of new jersey, and that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the united states and in the state under the authority of the people and i will diligently, faithfully, impartially, justly, and to the best of my knowledge

and ability execute the said office in conformity with the powers delegated to me, and that i will to the utmost of my skill and ability promote the peace and prosperity, and maintain the lawful rights of the said state, so help me god. [chris christie repeats] congratulations. [applause] [cannons fire] [applause]

♪ ["stars and stripes forever"] ♪ [applause]

>> congratulations, governor. now the lieutenant governor fulfilling her dual role as the new jersey secretary of state will present chris christie with the state seal of new jersey. lieutenant governor. [applause] governor. [applause] >> good afternoon. i am tom kaine junior, the minority leader of the new jersey senate. and it is my honor to introduce

the chief justice who will administer the oath of office. [applause] >> i, kim guidano do solemnly swear that i will support the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of new jersey and that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the united states and in the state under the authority of the people and that i will faithfully, impartially, and

justly perform all the duties of the office of lieutenant governor according to the best of my ability, so help me god. [kim guidano repeats] [applause] >> ladies and -- [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the 55th governor of the state of new jersey, governor chris christie. [applause]

>> thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you very much. thank you.

lieutenant governor guidano, senate president sweeney, republican leaders cain and all the former governors, members of the supreme court, members of our congressional delegation, members of the new jersey state legislature, family and friends, today, once again, the people of new jersey have given me the opportunity to serve. [applause] and i thank each and every citizen for that honor. and once again, i have taken an oath where i have sworn to promote the peace and prosperity

of our great citizens, and a long oath it is, a long one. [laughter] it is an oath i have lived by for the last four years, and it is the oath i will live by for every day i am privileged to call myself your governor. [applause] the oath, though, is just a symbol of the bond that we have created with each other over the last four years. we have endured the worst economic recession of our lifetimes, and we have begun to triumph over it. we have confronted entrenched interests and their stream of money that have previously stood in the way of fiscal sanity for our state and educational excellence for our children. together, we have pushed those interests back and put our children's future first. we have survived the worst natural disaster in our state's history and we have worked together to restore, renew and

rebuild the state that we love. [applause] each of these challenges have been met by a new unified force in public life, by new jersey setting the tone for the entire nation, a tough new jersey, a resilient new jersey, a proud new jersey. [applause] a new jersey that has put aside political partisanship on the important issues to our people to take advantage of the opportunities each of these challenges has presented us with every day, a new jersey that has brought pride to our people and leadership to our nation. finally, this past november, new jersey has had the chance to

decide if the bonds we have formed were strong enough to endure the heat of today's political campaigns. would our elections confirm that the change we said had arrived on this stage four years ago truly had been beneficial for all of our citizens? because you see, elections are about more than tv ads, debates and rallies. each vote cast is an act of faith and trust, faith in the strength of the bonds we have built, trust in the hope that tomorrow will bring a better future for our people, better education for our children and a better day for all citizens. [applause]

now the people have definitively set the course for the next four years. they have affirmed the decision to take on the big problems. they have validated the idea that our answers to our problems must be bold. they have rewarded the principle that we must tell the truth about the depths of our challenges and the difficulty of real solutions. and it wasn't just some of our people who affirmed this course. it was not a vocal plurality like four years ago. this time, it was the largest and loudest voice of affirmation that the people of our state had given to any direction in three decades. [applause] suburbanites and city dwellers, african-americans and latinos, women and men, doctors and

teachers, factory workers and tradesmen, republicans and democrats, and independents, together, they have demanded that we stay the course. the course they have helped set. to stand up for what is right. [applause] to fight the fights worth fighting, and most of all, to work together to make government work for each and every one of those voices of affirmation, for each and every one of our people. you see, the people of this state know that the only way forward is if we are all willing to take on what is politically unpopular, if we are willing to share in the sacrifice, if we are all willing to be in this together.

we have no moral option, in my view, but to heed the voice of the voters, and that is exactly what i intend to do. [applause] today, i thank all of those who have once again placed their faith and trust in me and i make this promise. i will not let up. i will insist we work together, and i will make this government truly work for those who pay for it. [applause] you see, i do not believe that new jersey wants a bigger, more expensive government that penalizes success and gives opportunity to a few. they want an equal chance at the

starting line, not a government guaranteed result. why? because through hard work and being rewarded for that hard work, they know that they are part of their own success. we should make sure that government creates policies that reward the effort and talent of everyday people, not in the almighty power of government to fix every problem, real or imagined. [applause] so, let's be different than our neighbors. let's put more money in the pockets of our middle-class by not taking it out of their pockets in the first place. [applause] one of the lessons i have learned most acutely over the

last four years is that new jersey can really be one state. this election has taught us that the way we divide each other, by race, class, ethnicity, wealth and political party is neither permanent nor necessary. you see, our dreams are the same, a good job, a great education for our children, safe streets in our neighborhood and core values which give lives real meaning. those dreams are not unique to any one group in our state, and while government has a role in ensuring the opportunity to accomplish these dreams, we have now learned that we have an even bigger role to play as individual citizens. we have to be willing to play outside the red and blue boxes that the media pundits put us in. we have to be willing to reach out to others who look or speak differently to us.

we have to be willing to reach out a helping hand to a neighbor or a friend suffering from drug addiction or depression, or the dignity-stripping loss of a job. [applause] new jersey came together as one community when it mattered most, and now we must stay together. people of every background and belief, the government, and our people, to help our fellow citizens reach their dreams. there are times when we need to get along to just get things done because as joe carter said just this morning at the new hope baptist church, all of us may be one yes away from our own miracle. that is true for our state and our nation.

one yes away from our own miracle. the fact is that every person, no matter what challenge they are facing in their lives, must believe that they have inside of them all of the god-given ability to be happy, and they will not believe that if all they hear from us is that life is unfair and that only government can fix that unfairness. they must first believe that self worth comes from inside each of god's beings. [applause] government cannot solve every one of these problems.

government can only be one part of the solution. the unity our people have felt in the last year plus as we have confronted tragedy and challenge must be a unity that we build on to give every person a chance to reach their dreams. those dreams begin for everyone with a growing economy. this growth will not happen by following the path our neighbors seemed to prefer to pursue. for those that are for government redistribution and higher taxes, i have this to say. come to new jersey. you will be welcome here. in addition to a growing economy, here is how our government, our government, our government will lead the effort to create opportunity in new jersey.

we will make it a priority to have every child in new jersey get a good education, no matter what adult you have to offend, where you came from, what sacred cow we must slay, how we have to change the conventional thinking, we will no longer stand for the achievement gap that exists between our best and least educated children. [applause] this government, our government, we will end the failed war on drugs that believes incarceration is the cure for every ill caused by drug abuse. we will make treatment available to nonviolent offenders when we can and we will partner with our citizens to emphasize this truth. every life has value and no life

is disposable. [applause] this government, our government, we will fight to continue to change so that we value our differences and we honor the strength of our diversity, because we cannot fall victim to the attitude of washington, d.c., the attitude that says i am always right and you're always wrong, the attitude that puts everyone into a box that they are not permitted to leave, the attitude that puts political victories ahead of policy agreements, the belief that compromise is a dirty word. as we saw in december regarding the dream act, we can put the

future of our state ahead of the partisans who would rather demonize than compromise. as your governor, i will always be willing to listen as long as that listening ends with us being willing to compromise for the people who sent us to do our job. [applause] because you see, in the end, i have had no greater honor in my life than having twice been elected to be the governor of the state where i was born and raised. with that honor come solemn obligations to make hard decisions, to raise uncomfortable topics, to require responsibility and accountability, to be willing to stand hard when principals are

being violated, and to be willing to compromise to find common ground with all of our people. to work every day, night and day, to make new jersey all it can be. in short, to be the governor. [applause] to my fellow new jersians, we started this journey together at a dark time when hope was at a premium and had been squandered by a government unwilling to tell you the truth. today, we enter the final leg of our journey together with more hope than we have had in years and with the trust that comes

from partners who have shared with each other the hard truths that come from decisive action. we are at the dawn of the new age of pride and growth in our state and its people. let us move forward with the strength that comes from the belief that we have in each other. i believe in you, new jersey, and i always, always will. [applause] it is only fitting that in this administration, with more hurricanes, snowstorms, flooding and disaster of the natural sort than of any administration i can remember in my lifetime, that we begin the second term in the same way.

[laughter] [applause] so, to the folks who could not quite make it down the new jersey turnpike to be with us this morning, i understand. to the hardy souls who are here, you have my thanks, and i end by saying what comes directly from my heart. god bless you. god bless america. and god bless the great state of new jersey. [applause]

[applause] [applause]

>> good afternoon. my name is sarah christie, and it is my pleasure to introduce sister patricia to deliver the benediction. sister pat is my principal. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome sister pat. [applause] >> thank you, sara. heavenly father, today we celebrate and commemorate

another chapter in the history of new jersey. we acknowledge your sovereignty over our lives and our nation, and our state. help us to remember that freedom does not perpetuate itself, that we as a society have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and pray for it. help us to renew our loyalty to this great state. empower us to rededicate ourselves in faith to you and to one another. from the beginning of time, you have preserved us as a people and helped us emerge as a nation and continue to lead us in numerous and wondrous ways. make us reverent in the use of freedom, just in the exercise of power, and generous and the protection of weakness.

inspire and bless all who have been elected and invited to lead. we especially pray for our governor chris christie. we are grateful for the steadfast service rendered to the people of new jersey. continue to give him the wisdom necessary for the work at hand, fortitude and courage for the challenges that lie ahead. protect and bless all who serve with him. in jeremiah, we read, "for i know the plans i have for you, declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." the prophet isaiah reminds us that those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles. they will run and not grow weary.

they will walk and not be faint. loving father, as we conclude today's ceremony and move forward with hope, we pray, may the strength of god sustain us, the power of god preserve us, the hands of god protect us, the ways of god direct us, and may the love of god be with us this day and forever. amen. [applause] >> good afternoon, everyone. i am andrew christie. on behalf of my family, i would like to thank all of you for coming this afternoon. once again, i would like to congratulate the lieutenant governor and my father on their respective reelections. [applause]

once again, thank you all for coming and this inauguration ceremony is now adjourned. [applause] ♪

♪

♪

[crowd chatter]

>> [inaudible] [crowd chatter]

>> [inaudible]

>> c-span. we bring public affairs of vents to washington directly to you, putting you in the room in congressional healings, white house events, reviews, and conferences. offering complete gavel to gavel coverage of the u.s. house. we are c-span, created by the cable tv industry revive years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider. watch is on hd, i cuss on facebook, and follow us on twitter bird -- twitter. us on hd, follow us on -- like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter. >> on the next washington journal, david shepardson from detroit news. we will also speak with representatives of general

motors, ford, and toyota. "washington journal" is live every day at 7:00 eastern. join the conversation on facebook and twitter. live coverage on c-span tomorrow includes the 41st annual march for life at noon ease turn from the national mall in washington area at 2:30 p.m., health and human services secretary kathleen sebelius is expected to provide an update on the affordable care act to the u.s. conference of mayors. now, a conversation was supreme court justice stephen breyer. he was at the washington center for internships and academic center mark -- seminars for a little more than an hour. >> we're going to talk about the branch of government that works. [laughter] this is a hip crowd. let me start by asking you about what you did today. court heard a the

challenge today that the president's recess appointment power. i know you cannot talk about the case but here is an example that the supreme court has never had to think about before. there's been no case before. here we are 200 plus years into the nation's history. is it surprising that there are still mixing crannies that there are const -- there are nukes and crannies of the constitution that has come before the ban shackle -- the bench? also, i worked for senator kennedy. delighted that the school, and also the kennedy institute are together. on a project that would have been dear to his heart.

you are here because you are arty successes. you are interested in government works. you are willing to learn about it. from our point of view, this is about the right allocation of time because most decisions about how people live in the united states are not made in the court. goodd, you have a question. are there parts of the constitution that we never considered before? yes. authority now,he because they're only been about two in history, on the tonnage clause. i was hoping we would get to that. [laughter] you have to understand that courts are not really there to interpret the law. butthere are billions of argum. almost all of them settled. you don't get too angry at your

friends for too long. you work it out. that is his main thing. go work it out. that was in attitude that we found. no country would work with 99.9% of all agreements -- when you can't work them out, you go to the lawyer. always.ally do, but not the courts usually get settlements. if they still can't work it out, maybe they will have a trial. arguments, eventually