Issue Position: Strengthening our National Security

Issue Position

We must continue to promote a strong national defense. We need to make certain that our men and women in uniform have the equipment they need as well as the support of our nation. It is not the role of politicians in Congress to make strategic decisions about the military. Our Generals in the field are best equipped to decide what our troops need and what the mission demands.

In the past year in Iraq, the courageous work of our brave men and women in uniform has dramatically reduced violence against our troops and the civilian Iraqi population. We continue to train the Iraqi military to be successful and more self-sufficient as well as put pressure on the Iraqi government to reach important political achievements. The Iraqi military and police forces have significantly reduced Al-Qaeda's presence in the country and reduced violence throughout the region. With two sons who have served in Iraq, I know firsthand of the achievements of our troops.

We must continue to take the fight to terrorists overseas, so that we are not facing them here at home. Because of the tremendous dedication and sacrifice of our nation's military, we have prevented other attacks on American soil since 9/11. The hard work of our troops in Afghanistan has been vital in dismantling terrorist camps in that country and limiting their ability to plan attacks here in the United States. In particular, I am so proud of the men and women assigned to my former National Guard unit, the 218th Brigade, who served our nation with honor in Afghanistan. I visited them every three months for the past year to share my appreciation for their service. This is a battle we can and must win to protect American families at home.

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