Providing Sound National Security and Defense

"A commander-in-chief leads the military built by those who came before him. There is little that he or his defense secretary can do to improve the force they have to deploy. It is all the work of previous administrations. Decisions made today shape the force of tomorrow."
- Vice-Presidential Candidate Dick Cheney, 2000 Campaign

Since September 11, 2001, America has engaged in two major conflicts. In each, the honor, bravery and skill of America’s fighting men and women cannot be overstated. Our country is indeed fortunate that President Bush was supplied with a strengthened, modernized military molded during the 1990s under a Democratic President. While Republican leaders continued their quest for a ballistic missile defense system to protect us from a Soviet-style conflict, President Clinton and a bipartisan majority worked to mold a military force that was successful in defeating the Taliban and Iraqi forces.

During the 1990s, the Pentagon spent more than $1 trillion in developing and procuring a new generation of advanced weapons and information technology. President Clinton left behind him a highly capable military ready to respond to the new commander-in-chief.

Democrats stand for leading freedom-loving people worldwide with a tough, international foreign and defense policy backed by a modern military equipped with state-of-the-art intelligence gathering capability. Democrats believe that America must continue its force modernization.

In return for our fighting men and women’s service and sacrifice, we owe them our respect and gratitude - and their families deserve better than vague strategies for troop withdrawal and food stamps to make ends meet.

Democrats stand for a national defense policy that emboldens our allies and gives our enemies pause – not the other way around. Our troops deserve a military policy that clearly, and truthfully, defines why they’re fighting, what they’re fighting for, and when they’re coming home.

In times of danger, Americans set aside our differences and rise to the defense of our nation. The American people, all of us, did so magnificently after September 11th. Yet, the war on terrorism is a global fight, and the Bush Administration’s divisive foreign policy toward other democratic nations can only be practiced at our nation’s peril.

September 11th taught us that we need to be better prepared for crises at home as well. Nevada’s Democrats in Washington and in Carson City have led the fight to secure funding for Homeland Security, to improve Nuclear security and to strengthen airline security following September 11th.