two t michael o'hanlon is a senior at brookings a brookings&director of foreign policy. was it ever realistic to believe that the united states could fight two major wars at the same time, just in terms of the energy, time commitment pressures, i mean, what we saw when we were fighting iraq surely was -- reality is that this was always a planning device, or do i have it wrong? >> i think you're mostly right, fareed. even in the cold war when we had larger forces, the vietnam war drained a lot of capability from europe. and that had been true as well in korea. i think you're basically correct. therefore, you can't make too much of this change. also, the pentagon today has -- this week has emphasized that they still do have that capability to do something in a second place. just wouldn't be a full, all-out second major contingency. and finally, and a point i've been trying to emphasize, is that was all the places where our interests are threatened, most are maritime or -- or air oriented. in other words, the persian gulf, waterways, strait of h hormuz, taiwan, it's not all

joining us now, michael o'hanlon, director of research.k you for joining us. the state department is saying that these maneuvers are an attempt by the iranians to divert attention away from the effects of sanctions. but isn't it possible that this may yet increase the possibility of some kind of military engagement? >> it is. and i think the fundamental conundrum for president obama or for any of the republican challengers that you were just talking about is that we don't really have an iran policy that will prevent iran reliably from getting a nuclear weapon. we have a policy of punishing them for continuing to move in that direction. i tend to think it is the best we can do. i do not favor the military strike any more than i guess you do based on your analysis a minute ago. but the obama administration hasn't ruled out -- >> my analysis is based on your writings. it is experts like you that i'm deferring to. rick santorum makes comments like bombing individual scientists who may be assisting a nuclear program as if that's something one d

larry korb, michael o'hanlon, thank you very much. >> thank you. >> thanks, fareed. >>> stay with us, we have a very curious story up next. why most chinese this week couldn't watch their favorite tv shows. and won't ever be able to watch them again. i'll explain. and more. if you replace 3 tablespoons of sugar a day with splenda®, you'll save 100 calories a day. that could help you lose up to 10 pounds in a year. and now get even more with splenda® essentials, the only line of sweeteners with a small boost of fiber, or antioxidants, or b vitamins in every packet. just another reason why you get more... when you sweeten with splenda®. ♪ we're getting back in shape. oh! try these. i sprinted here... wow! from your house?! from the car. unh! ooh. [ male announcer ] get back on track with low prices on everything you need. backed by our ad match guarantee. walmart. >>> imagine if you flicked on your television and found that the government had canceled "american idol," "30 rock," the office," and "dancing with the stars." well, that's essentially what happened in china when last week bei

i present to you michael o'hanlon. [applause] >> good morning everyone. it's great to be with you.ur willingness to put up with me and i will try to be brief and get a little conversation going because we have a number of subjects and i'm honored to be speaking before my good friend michelle flournoy who i know will give a very important speech today as the administration unveils a very important new defense strategy budget and that's where i want to go in my remarks is straight to that topic. with generally the supportive words about where the administration is going but with a few questions and concerns and in the interest of conversation i'm going to focus on the latter. let me also say how much of an honor it is to be with you. and i know we have leaders from yesterday, today and tomorrow in this group who are so the interested in our national security to do so much to sacrifice so much for it and as a civilian i can only again humble lee say how much i appreciate and at my ear what you do for our nation so thank you for that great privilege. now let me talk about where we stan

[applause] -- michael o'hanlon. >> good morning, everyone. it's great to be with you. it's a little humbling to be following general petraeus and administrator boulder deployed to plays like afghanistan and iraq and space but are usually deployed to the library. but i appreciate your witness to put up with them, and i will try to be brief and try to get a little conversation going because we've got a number of big subject and i'm also are to be speaking just before my good friend, a shill for nor do i know we'll get a very important speech today, as it ministration unveils, very important new defense strategy and budget and that's where i want to go in my remarks, straight to the topic. with the generally supportive word about where the administration is going but with a few catchers -- concerned that an interest the conversation i'm going to focus on. first lady also to say how much of an honor it is to be with you. and i know would have leaders from yesterday, today and tomorrow in this group who are so interested in our national security, who do so much for us, who