Gordon Chang, Barry Rubin, Mackenzie Eaglen, Andy McCarthy

Gordon Chang explains China’s “Zero Sum Game” with the United States. The Chinese view towards relations with the U.S. is that one side must win and one side must lose. America sees relationships as win/win for both parties, whereas the Chinese feel that only one party can win and dominate the international system. What can America do to “win” this game? China has becoming more aggressive in their rhetoric towards America. Chinese Flag Officers have claimed that China will engage America in war within the next 5-10 years. How can the American government ignore claims such as that? There are now signs that the Chinese economy is declining and becoming smaller. What does this mean for the Communist Party? Economic tribulations for China will result in them becoming more belligerent towards their neighbors in order to keep the peace within the populace. What will happen if China starts to breakdown? With the EU collapsing, what does that mean for the US and China? The U.S. is in the best position to weather the storm because America has the largest domestic economy, but China will suffer greatly.

Dr. Barry Rubin gives a history lesson on the Muslim Brotherhood. He explains where they came from and how they collaborated with the Nazis during World War 2.  It is reprehensible for the Obama Administration to work with the Muslim Brotherhood and their subsidiaries. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is leading U.S. policy in the Middle East; this is equivalent to the U.S. using Fidel Castro as their advisor to Latin America. How can this policy possibly have a positive outcome? The Obama Administration has claimed that they support the new governments of the Arab Spring and this is part of his Muslim outreach program. If Obama works with the Muslim Brotherhood, what would that mean for American security? The Muslim Brotherhood claims to be moderate, which they are not, and if they gain power then they will follow the Turkish model and slowly take over every aspect of society, not with force, but through controlling the government and legal institutions. This takeover will be slow and take time so as not to arouse suspicion from the international community. What does this mean for Israel, the Middle East and the United States of America?

Mackenzie Eaglen joins Frank to give the truth behind the defense budget cuts. In 2011 the White House Budget Office reported the Defense Budget at $730 billion and President Obama requested that in the next fiscal year it be cut to $703 billion; this was before the debt ceiling deal. The year after that the Defense Budget will be cut by another $26 billion and in 2013 President Obama has requested the Defense Budget be capped at $652 billion. It would be 2016 before the Defense Budget would be able to grow back to 2011 numbers. Since Obama has been president, $700 billion have been cut from defense. Unlike Entitlements, Defense does not have a clear base line for which to cut money. So why is everyone looking to cut Defense when it is much easier to cut Entitlements? What impact will these cuts have on our national security? America’s Navy is the smallest it has been since World War 1 and these cuts will make it the smallest since the 19th century; what ability will they have to protect the world’s waters? With these cuts the Air Force will be the smallest it has ever been in history and already it is small and aging.

Weekly guest Andy McCarthy gives his analysis on the future Defense cuts and what that means to American security. Andy explains the need to make cuts to defense, especially with a mounting debt, but the government needs to keep in mind their priority and responsibility to protect the homeland.  Why aren’t there cuts to Entitlements? Protecting the nation is a responsibility enshrined in the Constitution, not Entitlements yet they are not on the cutting table. It is necessary that America has a clear goal and direction for its defense and then come up with an intelligent budget to allow the DOD to achieve those objectives.