Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen predicted dire consequences if sequestration moves forward.
They spoke Monday on the national security implications of the U.S. national debt at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mullen said that he’s not optimistic that the U.S. will not go over the fiscal cliff with sequestration. Former Secretary Gates called leaders to “step outside the cocoon of idealology” to find a solution.
Secretary Gates joined the conversation via satellite.
Panel discussion participants included: former White House director of the Office of Management and Budget Alice Rivlin and former U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM). Former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) also participates via satellite.
This was the second of four forums on America’s fiscal challenge sponsored by former Senators Sam Nunn (D-GA), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Warren Rudman (R-NH), and Evan Bayh (D-IN).