Over the last few months, many of you have made it clear how concerned you are about national security, terrorism, homeland security and, specifically, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Providing for the common defense is a fundamental duty that our Constitution requires, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously.
We are fighting two wars, and it is my belief that we must provide our men and women in uniform with the resources and the means to carry out their duties and succeed in their efforts. We must remain resolved and determined in our fight against terrorism -- and not become complacent -- or else we risk another attack on our homeland. We must deny the Taliban a safe haven to plan future attacks against America, and achieving this mission successfully must be the goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Our military men and women on the ground in Afghanistan are doing a tremendous job to help stabilize this nation and bring freedom to this country, and the National Guard's Agri-business Development Teams (ADTs) are a vital part of this effort. The National Guard ADTs are comprised of Guard members who have a civilian background in farming or a related agricultural business who utilize those skills to teach Afghans sustainable farming practices. Before the groups arrive in Afghanistan they collaborate with farm bureaus and land-grant universities like the University of Missouri to prepare agriculture strategies for Afghan farms. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that I sponsored that recognizes the outstanding efforts of the National Guard's ADTs to help war-torn nations like Afghanistan improve their agriculture economy.
In light of all these critical issues facing our country, the "Make a Difference" section of my website has allowed me to hear directly from you on these important issues, and I would like to share some of what I am hearing. A couple from New Haven showed their support for our continued military efforts by writing, "Keep funding our defense programs and our military." A couple from my hometown of St. Elizabeth urges us to "Pray that American stays strong militarily." While these are just a couple examples of what people are thinking on these issues, there is one major point of agreement among most folks: We must protect our people, our nation, and our freedom from those who wish to do us harm.
As our brave men and women continue to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world they deserve our full and unwavering support. The security we all enjoy is a direct result of their selfless sacrifice. Our men and women in uniform deserve to know that when an order is given to go into battle, their country will stand by them until the battle is won.