Issue Position: National Security
Issue Position
Issue Position: National Security
Radical Islam poses the single greatest threat to Western civilization since the end of the Cold War. The ideals that we hold dear and believe to be self-evident, such as religious freedom, individual freedom, and the equality of men, incite rage among Muslim extremists. As we witnessed on September 11, 2001, those motivated by this ideology of hate are bent on the destruction of America and the Western World. U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is crucial to maintaining American security.
After the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, America brought the fight to the terrorists; this is a fight we will ultimately win. We cannot allow those who wish us harm to doubt our resolvewe are a peace-loving nation, but we are also brave nation committed to the defense of our citizens. An abrupt American withdrawal would be a political and humanitarian disaster for Iraq. Furthermore, American retreat would serve to embolden terrorists like Osama bin Laden, who would view such a move as evidence of weakness and vulnerability. Our troops have made great sacrifices. We cannot simply declare victory or defeat and go home at a time chosen arbitrarily by politicians in Washington.
America has not seen an attack on her shores since September 11, 2001. This is due to the selfless dedication of our armed forces and the work of our intelligence community. The formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by President Bush shortly after the attacks has prevented and disrupted numerous terrorist attacks. 9/11 occurred, in large part, because of a breakdown in intelligence sharing and gathering among U.S. agencies. DHS has looked for ways to integrate intelligence communications and cut down on bureaucratic red tape so as to facilitate efforts to track terrorists, study the emergence of Islamic radicalization, and halt terrorists, weapons, and other materials from crossing our borders.
We are in the midst of a philosophical and global war on terror. We cannot become complacent. We must view the threat of radical Islam realistically; our very existence depends upon it.
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