National Defense

Defending against the infringement of the rights of Americans by foreign attack is a primary function of the Federal government. Securing the borders to prevent those who wish to harm Americans is our first priority, and common sense.

War must be used only in retaliation or under threat of imminent attack. When, as a nation, we make a decision to go to war the men and woman in our armed services will lose life and limb. Our defenders put their lives at risk when they take an oath to serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Members of Congress must follow their oaths to the Constitution as well, accept their responsibilities and declare war when necessary.

The Constitution is clear on who bears the responsibility of the power to declare war, i.e. the Congress. I am strongly opposed to Congress passing resolutions granting the President the authority to use force. Unless there is an imminent attack, the Congress should never disregard its Constitutional obligation over the war power. A decision to declare war requires debate, a process that clarifies the country's situation and leaves a clear conscience whatever decided.

As a country we should welcome trade with all countries, resolve our outstanding disputes with countries considered unfriendly and have diplomatic relations with all.

I support ending both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and withdrawing our troops as safely and quickly as possible. I am concerned with the current U.S. timetable for withdrawal in Iraq. The final exit of December 2011 creates the realistic possibility of U.S. troops being drawn back into battle should civil war(s) break out.

I do not believe our foreign military bases are Constitutional (Article 1, Section 8) , nor do I believe they make us safer. Senator Robert Taft, "Mr. Republican", opposed the US involvement in NATO for the same reasons.

While the country begins to have the overdue discussion on our foreign military presence, an intermediate step toward reducing that presence, and its costs, would be a review of all the bases the U.S. has around the world.

In the early 1990's a review was conducted to evaluate which domestic military bases best served the national defense. Many domestic bases were closed as part of this "peace dividend" at the conclusion of the Cold War. A similar review should be conducted of all 700+ foreign bases now to validate each one's strategic necessity to the defense of American citizens in order for those bases to remain open.

"The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure." - George Washington