Issue Position: Defense- Global War On Terror

Issue Position

Global War on Terror:

On September 11, 2001, extremists committed to the destruction of the United States and our way of life brought their violent ideology to American soil with attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and a failed attack on the U.S. Capitol. These fanatics have not only struck the United States, but also Spain, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, and, most recently, India. As a result, the battlefield of this global conflict stretches from Iraq and Afghanistan, across Europe, and to the United States.

This conflict is unlike previous wars our nation has fought. We face an enemy without borders, who adheres to no international laws and who refuses to negotiate. If we lose our determination now and ignore the pervasiveness of this threat, we will only pass on an even deadlier threat to future generations. We must vigilantly avoid subscribing to the same intolerance and hatred which consumes our enemies, but aggressively pursuing and thoroughly eliminating the terrorist threat is our nation's only option to preserve our way of life.

I fully support the efforts of our military personnel to carry out the difficult task of eliminating the terrorist threat and helping the Iraqi and Afghani people secure and rebuild their countries. I remain concerned about the impact that long deployments and dangerous conditions are having on American soldiers. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure the United States military is provided with the resources it needs for protection and to improve the living conditions of military troops.

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