Goodbye budget, hello national security

With what seems to be weeks upon weeks of fighting over budgets, spending, taxes and other domestic matters that sapped Democrats' political capital in Washington, the congressional recess now gives the White House an opportunity to pivot into more friendly territory: National Security.
Already Obama has seen his approval ratings go up on the heels of his mostly successful trip to Europe and a new poll released today by ABC and The Washington Post shows that almost 70% of Americans are favorable of his policy in trying to renew relations with the muslim world, a policy he hammered home today when Obama told the Turkish parliament in an address that the US was "not at war with Islam." A statement that rippled through the middle east as Obama's address was carried live on all major Arab and middle eastern networks.
Also trying to steer the conversation away from the polarizing budget issue will be the defense department, as Secretary Robert Gates will outline a plan to streamline the military to be more effective less as a conventional war power, but more as an anti-incursion, anti-guerilla fighting unit, as the defense department predicts that many of the combat that US forces will see over the next few decades will be on this scale. His plans are also an effort by the administration to save money and take funds from defense spending that has ballooned over the last decade and focus it more into the administration's plans for raised domestic spending to both fight the weakening economy, and secure appropriations for items such as renewable energy, education, and health care.
All of this also comes on the eve of North Korea's semi-failed attempt to launch a satellite over the weekend. Which many are saying will now be Obama's first true National Security test, as many in the UN security council aren't showing any indication of wanting to chastise North Korea, despite Obama saying in Prague yesterday that the launch was dangerous and should be criticized.