Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Debt is Decay


So, when it comes to economic issues and the impact of our national debt on national security; whose opinion holds more water for you?

1. The Pentagon;
“Attempting to use U.S. Treasury securities as a coercive tool would have limited effect and likely would do more harm to China than to the United States,” according to the report, which was sent to congressional committees by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. “As the threat is not credible and the effect would be limited even if carried out, it does not offer China deterrence options” in a diplomatic, economic or military situation, the Pentagon found.
2. German Bankers;
In private, German officials often express concern about U.S. debt levels and the inability of politicians there to reach a consensus on how to reduce it, but Schaeuble's public remarks underscore the extent of the worries in Germany.

"Ahead of the election in the United States there is great uncertainty about the course American politics will take in dealing the U.S. government's debts, which are much too high," Schaeuble said. "We need to remind ourselves of that sometimes and the global economy knows that and is burdened by it."
Economic security is national security - history makes that clear.

History also makes it clear that a nation that holds another nation's debt more often than not calls the shots, as that is the power position.

Economics matters. For the record - the Pentagon's report is below; written by the same national security team that brought you this.
Pentagon on China Debt Holdings