Obama Defense Credo Leaves Some Conservatives Fired Up

A YouTube video featuring Barack Obama offering a defense credo has been referenced by some conservative blogs today (h/t Ambinder).  In the video, Obama says:

I’m the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning and as president, I will end it.

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.  I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.  I will not weaponize space.  I will slow our development of future combat systems.  And, I will institute an independent defense priorities board to ensure that the quadrennial defense review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons.  To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons.  I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material.  And, I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair trigger alert; and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

I’m not sure what it is, but something about the video and some of the phrasing seems “off.”  Particularly, the statement, “I will slow our development of future combat systems.”  That’s a very ambiguous statement that could be taken in a variety of ways - many of which are negative.  For instance, one commenter at Ambinder asks in regard to this statement: “Does that mean he’ll allow the US military to atrophy and technology to obsolescence?”

The Obama campaign might want to clarify some of contentions expressed in this video.  I could imagine something like this going viral and scaring a bunch of primary voters in Ohio and Texas.