November 30, 2009

The United States military is the best fighting force in the world. I have no doubt in their ability to carry out the missions for which they’ve been trained.

Given full resources, unflinching support from the President, and moral authority to win, they can achieve victory anywhere in the world.

Tomorrow, after 8 years of war in Afghanistan, the President will announce the results of his year-long deliberation process. I have three suggestions for the President:

1. Mr. President, go big or go home. Our Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines are trained to fight and WIN wars. They are the best trained and equipped fighting force in the world. But we’ve tied their hands. The American people want us to give our troops everything they need to win so they can come home. In short, give them everything they need or bring the troops home.

   • First, we must define the mission: Our military is not a defensive force for rough neighborhoods around the world. They are trained to be an offensive, mission-driven military force to protect the United States of America. They are not trained to be nation builders or policemen. They are trained to be an aggressive machine that destroys and eliminates the enemy. Give them a mission and then get out of the way. They will accomplish the mission swiftly with outstanding results.
   • Second, we must redefine the Rules of Engagement: A politically correct war is a lost war. If we are going to sacrifice lives and resources in this fight, we must go in with everything we have. We must be committed to win. But then we must go home. Anything short of an all-out commitment to accomplish the mission puts too many American lives at risk.

   We can win any war, Mr. President, but only with your full commitment to the mission. Absent such a commitment, our presence in Afghanistan does nothing more than endanger our troops, compromise our readiness, and waste our money.

2. Mr. President, it is time to bring our troops home. If our mission in Afghanistan is simply to protect the populace and build the nation, then I believe the time has come to bring our troops home.

   We have successfully rooted out Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan. Fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda operatives are operating in Afghanistan according to Retired General James L. Jones’ assessment of the situation. "I don't foresee the return of the Taliban,” he said in an October 4 Associated Press report. Jones, who is President Obama’s National Security Advisor, continued: “Afghanistan is not in imminent danger of falling. The al Qaeda presence is very diminished. The maximum estimate is less than 100 operating in the country, no bases, no ability to launch attacks on either us or our allies."

   Mr. President, we all recognize that we will still have to fight Al-Qaeda around the globe. So let’s bring home the tens of thousands who have fought so valiantly to protect America. Let’s instead use the best human and electronic surveillance available to allow our special forces to target and kill those who actually threaten us.

   Retired General Chuck Krulak, 31^st Commandant of the Marine Corps, has suggested "Hunter-Killer Teams" with resources and rules of engagement that allow them to root out the enemy and suppress any Al-Qaeda entrenchment. I concur with the retired General. If the mission is to root out Al-Qaeda, we do not need to risk the lives of tens of thousands of troops to fulfill it.

3. Mr. President, as long as I have your ear, these are the real threats.

   While we’re addressing what must be done in Afghanistan, let us recognize the greatest national security threats we face. Our success in Afghanistan thus far has diminished the threats once posed in that corner of the globe. However, there remain even greater threats that must be addressed if our security and prosperity are to be protected.

   • Iran: From my perspective, as a nation Iran represents the most immediate, genuine threat to world peace. We must not allow them to achieve nuclear capabilities. I fear the current administration is giving them precisely what they need . . . time. The time to take out this threat is now.
   • Terrorism: Potential terrorist attacks are a clear and present danger to the United States of America. Whether they originate in Afghanistan or any other country, we must continue to pour resources into our international efforts to collect and analyze intelligence in real time. While protecting our domestic liberties, ongoing vigilance will be one of our greatest challenges now and for generations to come.
   • Debt: Finally, the single greatest threat to the long-term stability of the United States of America is our national debt. Our prosperity and unparalleled quality of life are at stake. Our inability to control our internal spending creates a national security risk. Our dependence on foreign credit has placed control of our future in the hands of our potential enemies. Should others decide to dump our debt, or equally as cataclysmic, stop buying our future debt on the world markets, our nation could face calamities we have never before seen. This danger is real, it is imminent, and it continues to be ignored. In fact, current policies and actions have put us in even greater danger.

Mr. President, in my humble opinion I believe it is time to bring our troops home. The troops have fought valiantly and won. Yet, the fight is not over. For generations the United States must continue to hunt and kill terrorists around the world who want death and destruction for the American people.

Mr. President, if you believe we must continue to fight in Afghanistan with tens of thousands of our men and women, let’s do so with a full commitment to win by giving the commanders in the field everything they need so they can bring all of our troops home swiftly and safely.

Becoming a citizen of the United States of America is earned and means something special. We are the envy of the world and it is no wonder why. We are the nation that empowers the individual with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are also a nation of laws, guided by a Constitution, to ensure those rights.

The Constitution gives Congress the responsibility "to establish a uniform rule of naturalization." We have a duty and responsibility to the legal citizens to set the terms of entry and exit. Currently, we are being unfairly asked to subsidize and tolerate a mass of illegal people flooding our country. This is a failure of Congress and an unprecedented unfunded mandate upon the states.

An Immoral Position

The status-quo is in many ways immoral. Current government policy, including the lack of political will to enforce the existing laws, unfairly exploits people who were enticed, encouraged, and incentivized to come to the United States of America illegally. As a country, we have given millions of illegal aliens access to jobs and taxpayer-supported entitlements including health care and education. It is morally wrong to tacitly approve breaking our laws. This must be fixed.

Most illegal aliens are good, hard working, decent people who have made a significant contribution to our country and our economy, but it often comes at an incalculable expense of other resources and jobs. We can accept that people are often simply trying to improve their lives for themselves and their families, but we should reject exploitation and return to the rule of law.

The federal government must live within its means. We cannot be all things to all people.

• Federal Budget. The federal budget has nearly doubled in ten short years. This is unacceptable and unsustainable. I am committed to dramatically reduce the size and scope of the federal budget.
• Line Item Veto. I support giving the President a line item veto to provide a check against pork barrel spending.
• Earmarks. I advocate taking control of the budget process in a way that forces representatives to be accountable for the expenditures they approve. Revamping the earmarking process is a top priority.  In April 2008 I signed a pledge to support earmark reform.  For details, click here.
Federal Bureaucracy. I believe the federal government has expanded far beyond its proper role. I will vote to repeal unnecessary and ineffective programs and departments.
• Taxpayer Protection Pledge. I have signed the taxpayer protection pledge.  Tax increases are not the solution to our budget woes. We must reduce spending.
• Campaign Spending. I am proud of the way I have run my campaigns. It reflects my fiscally conservative philosophy. I stick to a budget. I don’t go into debt. I don’t pay for polls to tell me what messages you want to hear.   I spend money only on necessities and I know how and when to say no.  And unlike my opponents, I don't spend donated money on free lunches for delegates.

This principle works! I agree with President Reagan: "Government which governs least governs best."

• Entitlement Programs. I will shun federal programs that depend on the formation of a large bureaucracy to provide entitlements.
  • Health Care. Our goal should be to insure all Americans with private health insurance. A market-based system—not government healthcare— will work! I favor solutions that incorporate health savings accounts, tax deductions and tort reform.
  • SCHIP. I do not support expanding coverage in any way that would draw people away from private health plans.
  • Social Security. We have an obligation to fulfill our promises to older generations. That promise should be balanced with policies which provide more personal control for younger generations.
• Federalism. I believe many programs currently run by the federal government – such as the Department of Education - should be left to state and local governments. I will seek to restrict the role of the federal government.
• Education. I reject No Child Left Behind and see it as a violation of core Republican principles. I will vote to repeal it. The federal government should not be in the public education business.
• Public Lands. The federal government needs to stop putting such onerous restrictions on access to our public lands. They are our lands. We need access for outdoor enthusiasts and responsible energy development. Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to Utah continue to be under funded.

This principle is important on two levels. First, we must hold people accountable for their actions instead of rescuing them from their choices. Secondly, we must hold elected officials accountable for how they vote and demand the highest standards of ethics and decency.

• Ethics. I believe elected officials should be held to the highest standard. Voters should not tolerate ethical breaches from elected officials.
• Immigration. We can’t reward illegal behavior. We must hold people accountable when they break our laws. But we must also be accountable for the poor policy decisions that got us where we are. My priorities are to fix legal immigration, reject amnesty, secure the border, and enforce our current laws. We must remove incentives to come here illegally and give businesses the tools to stay in compliance with the law.
• Abortion. I believe all human life is sacred. I support overturning Roe v. Wade to allow states the right to set their own abortion policies. Utah should have the right to ban abortions.
• Federal Marriage Amendment. The strength of our families is the strength of our nation. I am committed to the values and principles of traditional marriage and the promotion of a strong family unit.
• Freedom. We have the freedom to succeed or fail in this country. It is not the government’s role to stand in the way of either outcome.
• Voting. Utah’s vote matters. We deserve full representation that reflects our values and priorities.

Protecting and defending our freedom is the key role of federal government. We should prioritize defense functions in our federal budget and keep our commitments to the heroes who sacrifice so much to keep our enemies at bay.

• Military Spending: We must ensure that our troops have the best equipment, training, and leadership.
• War on Terror: We need to continue to adapt our military preparedness to respond quickly to radical jihadists anytime, anywhere using enhanced special forces capabilities and the best possible intelligence.
• Middle East: We must continue to protect our interests in the Middle East and help defend our allies in the region. This includes continuing to apply diplomatic pressure on rogue governments like Syria and Iran, promoting peace and democracy in Iraq, and insuring the defense and security of Israel.
• First Responders: I will stay in close communication with local police authorities to make sure they have the tools and protections they need on a federal level to enforce the law and keep us safe.
• Energy: Fueling our future is a national security issue. We must explore all potential forms of energy to ensure our energy independence. Click here for more information.
• Air Security: I support efforts to upgrade our air traffic control technology. I support funding for radar at both the Provo and West Jordan airports.
• Second Amendment: I support the right to own and bear arms as a personal and absolute right. For example, it’s wrong that laws restrict our rights to carry guns in National Parks.
• Veterans: I am a strong advocate for veterans. We are not taking good enough care of those who have taken care of us. Specifically, I will introduce legislation to take care of those who fall between the cracks after their service has ended.