National Defense

“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”
- George Washington

·Principle 24 - A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The safety and security of our citizens should be our government’s number one priority. In Washington today, however, military preparedness is often an afterthought. Even the term “War on Terror” has been abandoned in favor of a criminal prosecution mentality. Make no mistake about it; we are at war with Islamic extremists who threaten Americans and our way of life at home and abroad. I want to go to Washington to ensure that our national security is safeguarded.

War on Terror:

I’ll work with leaders in Congress to support our troops and make sure our intelligence agencies have the resources they need. I am opposed to closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay and favor the use of military tribunals to prosecute war crimes committed by terrorists. I am also opposed to the transfer of Gitmo prisoners to any prison facility in the United States and especially in the state of Illinois.

Iraq and Afghanistan:

I support the Status of Forces Agreement negotiated by President Bush and believe that we should continue to make an orderly drawdown of forces there, consistent with maintaining the security gains that have been achieved in that country. I also support the recommendations of General McChrystal in Afghanistan and would support the additional troops he needs there to provide security and defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda.