We need to reduce our global military footprint while maintaining our defense readiness. Our ground forces and military airlift resources are seriously overtaxed by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a presence in many other countries, and must be overhauled and updated so we can deploy our forces rapidly when conditions require. Our entire force structure must be retooled to deal with the emerging threat of terrorism even while it remains capable of conducting conventional warfare. It is unconscionable that the President cancelled the missile defense system for Eastern Europe on the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Poland. It is even more ludicrous that as we attempt to placate Russia, Iran (a Russian partner in undermining U.S. strategic interests) continues its development of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them with impunity. We must reinstate the Eastern European missile defense system program, and develop and deploy an equivalent naval system as suggested by the Secretary of Defense, both for reasons of defense and because cancelling this program raises serious doubts about our reliability as an ally.

As your Congressman, I will:

• Work to redefine our current “Overseas Contingency Operations” into a Global War on Terrorists which can be sustained indefinitely.
• Work to conditionalize all Third World foreign aid on the recipient nation’s acceptance of our right to strike terrorist cells, training camps and finance organizations upon receipt of credible, verifiable intelligence that they exist.
• Trust our generals in Iraq and Afghanistan to make strategic and tactical decisions, not the politicians in Washington.
• Support strengthening our alliances with Eastern European Allies such as Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and the Czech Republic.
• Support reinstatement of funding for the strategic missile defense system.
• Oppose any expansion of military involvements unless they are clearly demonstrated to be in our strategic national interest. Our military is neither designed nor intended for nation-building.