devise a budget that needs -- if you start with a premise, we're just iffing to cut the budget, and then we'll decide what our policy is going to be, i think we're heading down the wrong path. i think policy first, what are the requirements, and then decide what the budget will be. i think he is tough enough and strong enough and bringing republicans and democrats together. i think both parties should want a strong national defense consistent with the threats that we have to meet and to appropriate the dollars necessary to meet those threats. that's what this should be. get a strategy first and don't look at the budget first. the strategy and then the budget to conform to the requirements. i think he is strong enough to take that. >> let me ask you about mali. jay carney announced at the white house that we are -- the u.s. is going to provide some logistical support to the french. this is against rebels that were previously armed and trained by the united states. this is real blowback, the classical sense of blowback. the french are facing a