threat of violent extremism which is still there and needs to be dealt with, proliferation of lethal weapons andters, the destabilizing behavior of nations like iran and north korea. the rise of new power across asia. and the dramatic changes that we've seen unfold in the middle east. all of this comes at a time when america confronts a serious decifit and debt problem here at home. a problem which is itself a national security risk that is squeezing both the defense and domestic budgets even as we face these considerable pressure, including the requirement of the budget control act to reduce defense spending by what we have now as a number $487 billion over ten years,