Defending America
We must maintain a strong defense, and
it distresses me that there seems to be a new attitude that America
should apologize for its actions. I do not favor closing Guantanamo
Bay, and I am troubled by efforts to try terrorists in criminal
courts. I thought the handling of the interrogation of the
Christmas Day bomber in Detroit was shameful. What newly elected
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown said on Election Night was artful in
its simplicity: "In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should
pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them."
We must focus on efforts to tailor our foreign policy in ways
that ensure our security and help with our longstanding goal of
spreading democracy. And we cannot go soft here at home, and must
be vigilant so incidents like the Christmas Day flight and the
shootings at Ft. Hood can be averted. We also must not lose sight
of the dangers that face our brave men and women in uniform,
especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. I pray for their safe
return.
It is our responsibility to make sure that our troops have all
they need, on the field and after they leave our Armed Forces. I am
committed to making sure that veterans' benefits are provided
through legislation that focuses on prohibiting increases in
deductibles, co-payments, and premiums, as well delivering these
services in a timely and efficient manner.
Finally, we can't ignore the security of our borders. With the
current economic crisis, rising unemployment, and a lack of
available credit, countless Americans are being forced to think
about job security more seriously than they most likely ever have
before. At the same time, we are left with the lingering challenge
of reforming our immigration system. I do not support illegal
immigration, and I oppose amnesty for those who came here
illegally.