"You break it, you own it. We went in with high expectations and the best of intentions to aid the people of Iraq.
While Saddam Hussein has been removed and executed, the people of the region have never known freedom of any kind let alone the wondrous system we enjoy and cannot be expected to trust in any system that provides for an orderly transition of power. The idea is beyond the comprehension of people who have for thousands of years lived under the control of Kings, Potentates, and Dictators.
Only time will allow these citizens of Iraq the chance to experience the American Dream of free enterprise and opportunity.
The real question is how much time do we allow and is it worth it. Are we really safer as a Nation?
The next Commander in Chief must ask our most trained Generals to craft a plan to bring most of our troops home as quickley as possible, while not squandering the sacrifices made for Democracy so far."
"The news media must lend their aid in reporting to the world the struggle in Iraq. The foes we stand up to are not insurgents, citizens of a nation fighting invading oppressors from the outside, but rather enemies of the people of Iraq. They are not standing up to oppressors when they bomb schools, hospitals, and public transportation to kill and maim innocent women and children. These people are the ones seeking to once again oppress the people of Iraq. Hopefully the US press will change their term to better reflect the reality of who the real villains in this struggle are."
We cannot be solely dependent on our technology to protect us in the future.
While currently superior and the best in the world, a space based attack on our defensive satellites would leave us vulnerable and blind to aggressive action by hostile nations. We must continue to maintain our vigilance in traditional means as well as computerized modern methods.
This was demonstrated to us a few years ago when the Chinese shot one of their own satellites out of orbit in a veiled but hard to ignore threat that they could do the same to us in the future should that be their desire."
"I support the all vounteer military, oppose a renewed draft, and believe as Jefferson did "The price of freedom is not free."
Freedom is not without a price, but misguided policy must be addressed while still funding our defense at the levels required to keep us the best defended Nation on the planet.
As we begin our withdrawal from Iraq, why not ask that naton, not you, to fund it's rebuilding effort.
It was said we went to war over oil. To date, I have not seen any extra supplies that could reduce the cost of filling your gas tank come into the United States, but I ask, is it not reasonable to request that the Iraqies fund their own rebuilding through their oil sales and other trade rather than asking the Mississippi taxpayer to fund that effort?
I will work to ease the tax burden on U S citizens that are being asked to fund the war in Iraq."
