Obama vows no US defence cuts for Asia-Pacific - AFP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

All that's missing is warnings about "falling dominoes" and a cowboy hat.

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-warns-north-korea-proliferation-000318432.html

President Barack Obama signalled a pivotal US shift to Asia on Thursday, pledging not to let Washington's budget crunch compromise his expansive vision and military presence in the region.

"The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay," Obama declared in the Australian parliament on the latest stop of a tour that he said augured a "larger and long-term role" in shaping Asia.

His commitment came a day after the United States said it would deploy up to 2,500 Marines to northern Australia and tighten air force cooperation, sparking concern from China, whose rapid rise is reorienting Asia's strategic balance.

In a message aimed both at a dynamic region he sees as key to the US economic future and budget-slashing Republicans at home, Obama said the Asia-Pacific was too vital to fall prey to US penny-pinching.

[exboyfil]

1. We spend 4.7% of our GDP

Australia spends 1.9%. Japan spends 1.0%. South Korea spends 2.9%.

Tell them to start spending more to protect themselves. We should be cutting back to no more than 3% and that includes Asia, Europe, Middle East, etc.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. It's campaign season and candidates love to look tough on whatever bogeyman they erect.

[earthside]

2. This is why I am not trusting Pres. Obama ...

... on the budget 'super committee' negotiations.

I just wouldn't be surprised that he would support taking defense cuts off the 'automatic' cuts table.

[msongs]

4. fresh from a weekend selling out our constitutional protections to corporations. no surprise here nt