PROTECT AMERICA

With the threat posed by radical Islam and the growing belligerence of rogue nations like North Korea and Iran, the 21st century is already a dangerous place. That makes President Reagan’s dictum of “peace through strength” just as appropriate today as it was during the height of the Cold War.

Based on his experiences in the U.S. military, Rocky believes that America must renew her commitment to the principles that made this nation safe, free, and prosperous. Indeed, a complacent America, either at home or abroad, is the greatest threat to a peaceful and productive future for the United States and our allies. In particular, America must have the means to remain engaged in the world – to act proactively to safeguard against terrorism and to protect our citizens from the enemies of freedom.

America’s military might must always be second to none. Just as important, our armed forces must have the capacity to act anywhere in the world where our vital interests are threatened. To have a military that can do anything less only serves to embolden those who despise our way of life and the freedoms we hold dear. Likewise, safeguarding the homeland sends a powerful message –America will defend itself against any attack while at the same time maintaining a free and open society.

The only way to secure America is to make a sustained commitment to national defense by building robust strategic systems (including comprehensive ballistic missile defense, space-based assets, and nuclear modernization), and by deploying forces that can fight conventional conflicts, combat terrorist threats, and secure the nation’s borders. Demanding solutions are required that will simultaneously provide security, promote economic growth and competition, protect the liberties of American citizens, and keep America as a beacon of freedom to the world.

Rocky agrees with U.S. Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) who recently noted in a speech: “Now should be the time for America to rededicate itself to the strategy of:  1) peace through strength, and 2) recommitting ourselves to standing up for democratic and peaceful allies.”

Why is now the time? Because based on Obama’s budget plans, total defense spending is projected to decrease from about 4.9 percent this current fiscal year to roughly 3.5 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, in just two years, the cost of just paying the interest on the national debt will exceed the entire defense budget. While our military is certainly expected to provide the best value for every tax dollar, we cannot balance the budget by scrimping on security. The cost of failure is just too high.

At the same time, Republicans and Democrats must work to restore what had been a basic commitment throughout most of our history – partisanship must stop at the water’s edge. America must be unified as it our mission in Iraq shifts to a new non-combat role and as our efforts in Afghanistan ramp up. In fact, it is amazing (and disheartening) to me that Rep. Peters could support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan – a misguided and naïve strategy that simply tells the Taliban to wait us out. Moreover, we must give our troops there the tools and the rules to win the war – or get out. Our soldiers should not be in harm’s way with one hand tied behind their backs by politically correct rules of engagement.

Finally, America will not be secure as long as skyrocketing national debt threatens the solvency of the nation. When the national debt exceeds gross domestic product, we reach a “tipping point” that gives our enemies and our foreign creditors the upper hand. America cannot afford to let her strength be sapped by a spendthrift Congress more concerned with satisfying special interests than in protecting our special status as the freest, strongest nation on earth.