Right now the US is fighting a multi-fronted war. The first front is in Afghanistan, the second is in Iraq. US forces are currently engaged in smaller amounts in South America, The Pacific, and Africa. The majority of our people look for a way to end the fighting.
September 11th showed us that we had chinks in our armour. Failures of our intelligence agencies, failures in screening practices, failures in military response time, failures in aviation procedures and failures at the border. All lead up to the tragedy of 9/11.
My intentions on these issues are as follows:
1- Iraq
We must finish the job. Leaving a destabilize mess will only cause us additional problems in the future. By completing the job of rebuilding the country and securing it against additional problems we may win a valuable ally in a heated region. This job of 'finishing' is to be completed by a number of tasks.
A- Continue to screen and train the Iraqi police and military. Only by making them stronger can we hope to finish returning the burden of combat to them. This will continue to allow our military to convert to an advisory role and further minimize our casualties.
B- Use the income generated by the growing oil production to fund further reconstruction and renewal projects. This will free the burden from our own citizens. Private corporations are free to aid in the funding, but will be restricted from 'profiteering'.
C- Iraqs borders must be sealed to prevent further influx of foreign fighters.
D- Bring the National Guard home and replace them with professional soldiers.
2 Afghanistan
A- Finish the hunt for Public Enemy #1, Osama bin Laden. Forgotten by the current administration, the head of the organization responsible for 9/11 must be brought down.
B- Send in enough forces to stabilize the country, and stop the growing drug trade. Once the situation is stabilized, convert to an advisory role, and then withdraw as recommended in Iraq.
3 HomeLand Security
Homeland Security is #1 priority. In order to accomplish this, part of my plan calls for the following:
A- Federalize all Airport screeners, and strictly enforce screening guidelines.
B- Combine the FBI and CIA into the DHS and complete data integration.
C- Fully fund the Border Patrol and Border Inspectors so that they can do their jobs. Expand the inspection of incoming vehicles to include checks not just for contraband and illegal aliens, but also safety. This is especially true on the Mexican border where every day unsafe trucks enter our country. Expansion of border inspection stations to be funded and complete within 2 years.
D- Use the National Guard and available regular military to patrol the borders regularly and constantly. Use of navel and air support as needed.
E- Create a "Coast Watchers" department whose purpose is to monitor our coasts and borders to detect unauthorized entry. If we can't stop a few kilos of cocaine, how can we expect to stop terrorists? By creating an active combined border defense we can stop the influx of illegal aliens, terrorists and drugs.
F- Put into effect the recommendations of the 9/11 committee to further secure our airports and other transit systems against future attacks.
Funding of these initiatives will be accomplished by several means. Auction of seized assets, increased entry fees, as well as private investment.
September 11th showed us that we had chinks in our armour. Failures of our intelligence agencies, failures in screening practices, failures in military response time, failures in aviation procedures and failures at the border. All lead up to the tragedy of 9/11.
My intentions on these issues are as follows:
1- Iraq
We must finish the job. Leaving a destabilize mess will only cause us additional problems in the future. By completing the job of rebuilding the country and securing it against additional problems we may win a valuable ally in a heated region. This job of 'finishing' is to be completed by a number of tasks.
A- Continue to screen and train the Iraqi police and military. Only by making them stronger can we hope to finish returning the burden of combat to them. This will continue to allow our military to convert to an advisory role and further minimize our casualties.
B- Use the income generated by the growing oil production to fund further reconstruction and renewal projects. This will free the burden from our own citizens. Private corporations are free to aid in the funding, but will be restricted from 'profiteering'.
C- Iraqs borders must be sealed to prevent further influx of foreign fighters.
D- Bring the National Guard home and replace them with professional soldiers.
2 Afghanistan
A- Finish the hunt for Public Enemy #1, Osama bin Laden. Forgotten by the current administration, the head of the organization responsible for 9/11 must be brought down.
B- Send in enough forces to stabilize the country, and stop the growing drug trade. Once the situation is stabilized, convert to an advisory role, and then withdraw as recommended in Iraq.
3 HomeLand Security
Homeland Security is #1 priority. In order to accomplish this, part of my plan calls for the following:
A- Federalize all Airport screeners, and strictly enforce screening guidelines.
B- Combine the FBI and CIA into the DHS and complete data integration.
C- Fully fund the Border Patrol and Border Inspectors so that they can do their jobs. Expand the inspection of incoming vehicles to include checks not just for contraband and illegal aliens, but also safety. This is especially true on the Mexican border where every day unsafe trucks enter our country. Expansion of border inspection stations to be funded and complete within 2 years.
D- Use the National Guard and available regular military to patrol the borders regularly and constantly. Use of navel and air support as needed.
E- Create a "Coast Watchers" department whose purpose is to monitor our coasts and borders to detect unauthorized entry. If we can't stop a few kilos of cocaine, how can we expect to stop terrorists? By creating an active combined border defense we can stop the influx of illegal aliens, terrorists and drugs.
F- Put into effect the recommendations of the 9/11 committee to further secure our airports and other transit systems against future attacks.
Funding of these initiatives will be accomplished by several means. Auction of seized assets, increased entry fees, as well as private investment.