Keeping Us Safe
Summary:
The United States must restore military strength in unstable regions and harden its counter-terrorism capabilities in order to effectively fight the growing threat from domestic and international radical Islamic terror groups, including ISIS and the Taliban. The horrific attack in Orlando on June 12th reminds our country that, as we mourn, we must also be vigilant in eliminating overseas threats to our national interest and stopping their ideological reach within our borders.
Background:
Our armed forces continue to be reduced in number and strength throughout the world despite the growing power of ISIS and other radical groups. In addition, the influence of the Iranian regime has grown and for the first time since the 1970s, Russia has gained a powerful influence in the Mid-East.
Multiple regional conflicts complicate US diplomacy across the globe. The presence of ISIS in Libya and its allies in sub-Saharan and West Africa threaten our country’s security interests. Russia’s annexation of Crimea coupled with that country’s aggression towards Ukraine and Chinese aggression in the South China Sea also call for a response.
Without input from Congress and despite Iran’s history of non-compliance with various international nuclear agreements and protocols, President Obama reached a deal with Iran that would allow the country to continue non-military nuclear research and development and receive up to $150 billion after sanctions are lifted.
Action Recommendations:
The United States must rebuild our armed forces, increasing the number of active duty personal and modernize our weapons systems. To do this, the burdensome and expensive procurement procedures required of the military should be streamlined. If elected, ensuring that our military forces are strong and well equipped around the globe will be a top priority.
In order to respond to security threats abroad we must reinforce our diplomatic presence around the globe. Our presence must be known and felt in unstable regions. In addition, we should have the resources necessary at our consulates to review the growing numbers of non-immigrant visa applications.
No administration should be allowed to establish agreements affecting our security without input from Congress. If elected, I will help fellow lawmakers ensure such programs are scrutinized carefully and only enacted after input from multiple areas and lengthy debate.