Military

As a sovereign nation, we the people, have formed a union of states, for our common defense and have given power to the Federal government to provide for this protection.  It is the first and foremost duty of this Federal Government to protect the property, lives and individual freedoms of these United States and our American citizens.  Collectively, through the principle of common consent, we pay taxes to support our military operations and security forces.  

I am pro-military and am in favor of the United States maintaining the world's greatest military power. We must continually advance military technology, maintain and develop the best weapons in the world - without telling our enemies, the media or anyone else what we are developing.  The strength of our military is a deterrent.   Ronald Regan expressed this position in saying “Peace through Strength.”

The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war.  The President is the Commander in Chief but the decision to go to war rests with our representatives in Congress.  When we do go to war – we go in to win – then we bring our soldiers home.  If Congress does not declare war then our military operations abroad should be limited and only in direct response to acts of war against us or in response to our allies request to protect their nation from enemy attack.  

I believe it is foolish for the United States to participate in the civil wars of other nations.  We need to let internal conflicts be resolved by sovereign nations under their own terms.