Military

Our military serves to defend our Nation, and to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies; foreign and domestic." Today our military forces serve in many countries around the world to defend freedom, protect our allies, and secure our interests; all at tremendous cost. I believe that when our forces are sent into battle it should be with one goal only -- to win with unconditional surrender of the enemy. Too often our military is hamstrung by diplomatic and governmental intervention, keeping our forces from decisive victory. This only increases the cost in American lives in the long run. We need to give our commanders everything they require and recommend to get the task done, and then let them do their jobs. With the cooperation of our NATO allies, we are able to overcome and obstacle that we might face around the world.

My service in the United States Air Force has given me a unique view on how our military works and the people whom our armed forces are made up of. The men and women in the armed forces are all volunteers who have willingly taken their jobs, knowing full well that the day may come when they are required to stand in harm's way. For this they earn our utmost respect, support, and honor. They fight for the citizens of the United States, so that they would not have to. We always need to keep in mind that we owe our soldiers so much, and that we need to make sure that they receive the proper pay for the dangerous jobs they perform. Benefits such as the GI bill are great programs for our soldiers; they encourage many to join because they guarantee an education opportunity after their service has ended.

Whenever an administration has cut military spending, eliminated advanced-technology weapons programs, and otherwise weakened the strength of our Nation, subsequent administrations have found the military woefully inadequate to meet current needs. It never fails. As foreign regimes change and threats to our citizenry rise and fall, challenges for our armed forces also evolve. Should we be reactionary or preemptive? The former means playing "catch-up" after an attack or threat. Preparing for future challenges is far better and less costly in money and lives.

The threat of an attack on the USA must be countered with a like threat of retaliatory destruction. Force is all some cultures understand, or respect for that matter. Weakness is seen as a fault and an opportunity for another nation to strike or dominate. Weakness only invites aggression; a fact that has been proven innumerable times in our world's history. We do not live in a "different" world today, and warm handshakes do not mollify dictatorial regimes. Appeasement and inaction opens the door for an attack even wider. Hatred of America is generations deep in some societies, and is reinforced in their schools, by their governments, and in their families at home.

Military funding must be maintained in times of peace and expanded when intelligence services anticipate a need for preparation.