[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> this week, what to expect from a 12 administration. the lieutenant colonel on his new book and skydiving. welcome to "defense news." i am jill aitoro. results of the election caught many by surprise. for the defense community, national security might look like under a trump administration. joe sat down with mark ca ncian and justin johnson and asked what we can expect. >> the first perspective i would offer is the company remains deeply divided -- country remains deeply divided. it makes it sound like a trump landslide. clinton seems to have own the popular vote.

enough to take control of either. the trial administration is going -- the trump administration is going to have to face strong opposition and make deals across the aisle. the surprise reflects the polls which were not terribly accurate and also surprise among the elites in the intelligensia which was not victory. >> there are some things we know about his approach to national security and a lot of open questions. tell us what we know and what are the questions. >> i think there are a lot of open questions. mr. trump does not come from a policy background. that is not what he is bringing to the table. he is coming to the table as a businessman, someone here to change the system. when it comes to national

questions. obviously, he has talked about the importance of allies contribute their fair share. he has been more aggressive talking about it than many. but i think that is something most analysts would agree our allies need to do more. beyond that, he is clearly talking about the importance of national security, the need for more when it comes to military in particular. i think the odds for some sort of defense budget increase next year just went way agenda. the senate and house are republican-controlled. it makes getting some sort of defense budget increase much easier to do. >> the lack of a policy background would make his advisors all the more important. and yet a number of old hands in the glp -- g.o.p. on national security issues have gone out of their way to distance themselves

do they work for him? >> i think it will be a mixture of both. i think there are some who have been very clear they will not consider working for mr. trump. i think there are others who opposed him as a candidate still believe in the call of serving your country if asked. i also think there is another -- there as well. there are folks at the more senior levels. i think it will be a mixture and will take time to sort out. >> we do have some sense about where a trump administration might go because he gave a speech in september where he laid out a structure and program. he was reading from a teleprompter. as a result, it reads pretty well.

, and maybe a 350 ships, air force of 1200 fighter aircraft as well as expanding cyber and missile defense. that gives us some sense of the shape of what a trump defense program might look like. >> there are internal contradictions because his advisors have said he does not plan to use those in an aggressive way. trump do with a 350-ship navy, more fighter jets, a 550 soldier army? >> that force is within the mainstream republican thinking about defense. it could have been attributed to any of the republican candidates. on the one hand, it is pretty conventional.

it does not fit with the foreign policy he articulated. he talked about allies paying more. talked about not being involved in nationbuilding. he talked about bringing forces home. what he described would be well-suited for the opposite, engaged with allies confronting adversaries. >> are there some options available in different parts of the globe with that sort of arsenal? >> i am not sure if there are specific areas where he is focused. i do think the reason you build a strong military, a larger military is not necessarily to go use them more. you look at the rates we are using the force today and clearly we have a mismatch between a smaller force but high up tempo across the board. that drives the readiness challenges we are seeing.

increasing the size. i don't think it leads directly to more deployed forces, more engagement and different things. it seems mr. trump would lean back to the old reagan saying of peace through strength. a bigger military to deter conflict. >> is there a conflict as far as how much this might cost do we know what it would cost for that kind of force? >> we have a sense of that, yes. cfis has a tool to produce costs for various force structures. we have run his proposed structure through that tool and it turns out to be about $180 billion above where obama was. on the one hand, it is a lot of

what secretary gates proposed for the department of defense when he was secretary. it is also well within the kind of burden on the economy defense has exerted in the past. it would take the percentage of gdp up to maybe 3.5%. that is not even where it was in the height of the wars in iraq and afghanistan. it is way below where the burden was during the cold war. it certainly is affordable if the nation decid

jill: welcome back to "defense news." donald trump has spoken about a significant buildup in the u.s. military which experts estimate could cost as much as $180 billion. joe asked what kind of obstacles his administration might have to overcome to make that a reality.

obstacles. the first is he made other proposals that will be expensive, particularly his tax cut proposals. doing a defense buildup at the same time you're trying to cut taxes will have a major effect on the deficit. to do either, you will need to waive or eliminate the caps from the budget control act. clinton also proposed doing that, so there is a lot of sentiment in the congress to there will be some run in with the fiscal hawks who will be reluctant to let the deficit run. i think as this plays out in the trump administration, we will have the david stockman moment. people may remember in 1983 when reagan had a very similar set of proposals. he cut taxes, he had a big defense buildup, and he was

would not be able to do that. they had been saying they would find additional savings, but those were not going to be available. there was a showdown at the reagan ranch where stockman and weinberger, who was secretary of defense, had a debate in front of the president. stockman raising questions about the defense buildup and affordability. weinberger making his argument about a strong defense. the defense buildup. but as a result, you had very large deficits. i would not be surprised if two years into a trump administration you have the same sort of showdown with whoever is heading o.m.b. and tough questions about purpose of the defense buildup. >> could there be a flashpoint in congress? strong defense is no longer a requirement in the republican party. fiscal conservativism is a

the house. how do you see that conflict surfacing and playing out? >> i think there is still that same political challenge inside the house in particular of different perspectives from the defense and fiscal hawks. i think having a president pushing it fundamentally changes that. number two, i think world events continue to seeing some movement even amongst fiscal hawks, a greater recognition defense does need to receive more. >> what that looks like next year becomes really interesting. you have got to have some sort of deal. we will almost certainly have to be fiscally responsible. i don't think the house in particular can pass defense increases that are not paid for in some sense.

entitlement reform is not on the table for him. you start saying, where are you going to find the money to do defense increases that he and many in congress want to do? >> i want to turn to donald trump's defense philosophy or the philosophy of his advisors and how he might approach some of the global hotspots cropping up. do you have a take on what might be the first big test whether it be china, russia? apparently, we will be relying on china to resolve the north korea. does that put us in a position where we have to back off the south china sea? >> i think he has already signaled the first hotspot will be isis because he said he would ask for a plan from the military within the first 30 days to defeat isis.

military forces in foreign affairs. after that, he will be looking at russia particularly has of his relationships with putin. i think some of those have been overdrawn. but he will clearly maybe try to reach out to resolve some of the tensions. maybe clinton's reset button will still be available and he can try that. >> in the meantime, we do have a lame-duck session of congress. if you could quickly tell me your predictions, what is on the agenda and how does this play out with a new congress and the president willing --new president willing -- looming? >> we still have a defense budget to authorize for 17.

debated. i think republicans in congress have their hand significantly strengthened by the election. i think it is likely we will see something closer to the $18 billion added. there are a bunch policy issues that need to be resolved as well. fundamentally behind that, the chairmen have more freedom to push for what they want in this bill knowing they will still >> as far as the defense increase, that is more likely with a trump administration coming? >> absolutely. the arts have gone way up for a defense increase next year -- the odds have gone way up for a defense increase next year. >> i think they figured the future would be good in any case. it probably would have gone up under clinton.

signal. jill: when we return, the editor talked to the lieutenant colonel jill: when we return, the editor talked to the lieutenant colonel about his book it was happening so fast. somehow it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. if i didn't react, things could have gotten messy in a hurry. i mean just got that sweet ride with a great rate from navy federal. i was not about to let anything happen to her. just looking out for my wingman. he's still in training. open to the armed forces, the dod and their families.

jill: in 2006, he led the first battalion concord to iraq, what he described as the most dangerous city in the world. in his new experience during some of the heaviest sustained urban fighting of the war. the "military times" executive editor sat down with him to hear more. >> i wrote it as a tribute to the soldiers i served with. i was very lucky to have a great group of officers and soldiers that fought in the battle of ramadi in 2006. i thought their story needed to be told, their individual heroism and perseverance.

ramadi was a real turning point. the tribal leaders handed the papers to me and the guys in my unit. i thought a lot has been written about it, but i think the true story has not been told. i think there are a lot of lessons we can learn about how we were successful in ramadi that apply today in iraq and afghanistan and other places we will go in the future. needed to be told of what happened. >> can you talk about some of those lessons? >> the first was it really takes perseverance. my guys went out every day. my bravo company 26 to 25% casualties but those kids went out every day despite being attacked for or five times a day.

how they took the fight to the enemy. they were very respectful of the people and the people opened up to us. the second thing is it is said you cannot kill your way out of insurgency. but one thing we were able to do is get the tribal leaders, the local political leaders to link into the government. the awakening really was a political reached back to baghdad, the prime minister and the sheiks reached an agreement on how to move ahead. once the people were on our side, within six months, the violence stopped and it went from the most dangerous city in the world to the example of peace in iraq. >> 10 years later, i was struck by the cover of the book where it says "roadmap to peace."

aerial photos show wreckage from isis and the fighting. can you talk about what that means to you now 10 years later? >> well, after the pullout, the political situation in iraq devolved. prime minister maliki started sectarian policies against the cities. all of our gains melted away qaeda and isis in iraq, who are really the same guys. when you look at the city today, it kind of breaks your heart that we saw what was possible. in taking ramadi back a few months ago, the city was destroyed in the process. hopefully, that will not happen in mosul, too. i think what was possible is when you get the population on

i don't think that has been followed. i think the problems in iraq remain because there is still not lyrical reconciliation. >> there is a lot of pressure on iraqi security forces. americans are advising and assisting. you have worked closely with them in the past. do they have what the take -- what it takes to get the job done? >> one of my fellow battalion commanders used to say the iraqis are the bravest where we are the strongest. they do need some he happened a couple of years ago with the rise of isis was the iraqi government's sectarian policies took all the good leaders who happened to be sunnis and purged them from the military. you're only as good as your leaders. i think they have built some leadership backed up. but i think they still have a big problem with soldiers

and not just of the shia. i think they will still have problems going ahead. >> what would you say to the troops watching the news about isis and looking at involvement in iraq and maybe more involvement? what would you say to them? >> i would say no problem is insurmountable. we had a few months of very tough fighting. our success in ramadi led into the surge. if you look at iraq at the end of were pretty good. they were very peaceful. the democracy was moving along. the security situation has gotten much better. al qaeda in iraq was a most completely defeated. although no one wants to go back there and fight in iraq, i think the soldiers fighting, there are a lot of them and they are doing

looks. >> thanks. your book is on sale now. where can people find it? >> you can go to my website and find links to buy it from the publisher or it is available on amazon, barnes & noble's, or on the web. jill: personal finance experts share the benefits of consolidating credit card balances. >> the average american with cards. that may sound high, but if you think about your financial history there are instances in which different cards can be beneficial. let's say the first card you opened at boot camp had a low rate but no parks. as you moved with the military, a card with travel rewards and no transaction fee was a better fit. there is no downside to owning several cards if managed properly.

for your credit. if you are looking for a smart way to consolidate, consider a balance transfer. look for a low introductory rate and no fees associated with the transfer. another option is a 0% interest rate with a low fee. compare and see which saves more money. when you consolidate high interest rate balances, the balances will be at the low introductory rate saving you money and helping you better manage payments. this is a great option for store-issued credit rate. remember, keep your old accounts open. even the first one from boot camp. it could help you amp up your credit. jill: being detected was not an option. if i was recognized the whole operation was blown. the element of surprise was imperative. wow. he won't even recognize you. seriously. i don't even recognize myself.

it's gonna be a killer honeymoon. woo! maui!! boom open to the armed forces, the dod and their families. navy federal credit union. jill: early this month, a blitzing from the 192nd battalion, the group trained to

82nd airborne division. the idea is how to train to clear bombs. i spoke to the battalion commander to hear how it went. >> the disposal soldiers are on the battlefield to render safe hazards the maneuver force might run into. chemical or biological in nature. our job is keeping the soldier safe. jill: i know you last few years. there has been a lot happening in the world that would influence that. talk to me about that. >> it goes back as far as world war ii. most recently with the global war on terrorism, we have seen improvised devices. that has brought us to the forefront being integrated. part of being integrated is being where they are. when you look at the infantry and airborne, we were never part

culminating this week with our first jumps in support of the 82nd airborne division. jill: let's talk more about that. this is specific to the airborne functions. what was it you were trying to accomplish in that jump that just happened? >> we jumped a platoon sized formation to support a battalion sized herbal information -- airborne formation. they would jump first and have no support until aircraft could land on the ground we are closing that gap and being there for them when they hit the ground. we are immediately able to support their operations. jill: if this were in practice on the ground, you would jump. your group would go out front, is that how it would happen? >> there are a couple of scenarios. the most common would be the airborne unit would jump an open

ground with them and clear explosive hazards in the area that aircraft would need to land. the runway, taxi areas. maybe even the building you would control the operation with. think of the aircraft control tower like in a normal airport. that may be booby-trapped. there could be i.e.d.'s. we would clear that so they could open the airfield. jill: one of the most important questions is the occurred, how did it go? >> it was outstanding. it was a beautiful day. it was probably the most flawless job i had -- jump i have ever seen. they did a large equipment drop and we came behind it. we jumped seven soldiers into that. all shoots opened. it was beautiful. jill: that followed a number that have taken place in october. was that just to get them comfortable with the actual act

>> in order to jump with a mass formation like you see on tv, you have to train for that. the soldiers have never jumped before so there is a progression. you have to train the soldier how to jump during the day, at night, with equipment. it takes about four jumps and then you are ready to jump with the mass tactical formation. it is going through jump aggression. -- pro-russian. i have jumped. it is just that company. i get to make things happen and they get to have all the fun. jill: thanks for being with us. >> i think it will be a great opportunity moving forward. jill: that is all for this week on "defense news." next week, we offer an up close look at how medics are trained to perform emergency procedures. thanks for joining us.

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