"Recent estimates place the number of trained Islamic fighters between 40,000 and 100,000. These fighters pose a threat to American national security as long as they are motivated to fight the United States. There are two keys to defeating our terrorist threat. First, when we fight terrorists, we must use focused, overwhelming force. It is only through a vicious and decidedly deadly attack that we can gain any amount of respect from our enemy. Second, we must eliminate the underlying motivation they have for fighting against us. If we fail in either of these tasks, we guarantee ourselves eventual defeat. Occupation is the single greatest recruiter and motivator in the jihadist’s cause. While we occupy holy Muslim land, we will always have a highly motivated, patient terrorist threat. The Soviet Union, using one of the world’s largest and best trained militaries, was defeated after ten years of occupying Afghanistan. Their mistake was in underestimating the fierce determination of the Afghanis and their ability to wage a long war.

I will support the appropriate, overwhelming and vicious response to any terrorist attack against the United States. I support hunting down Osama bin Laden and eliminating him. However, I will not support occupation for the sake of nation-building. No amount of tit-for-tat retribution will end the war on terror unless we first take their motivation away. Luckily, the Founding Fathers gave us a tool to do just that. The Constitution specifically authorizes Congress to declare war on specific individuals and organizations that act as non-state aggressors. The manner in which Congress may do this is to “issue letters of marque and reprisal.” These letters authorize military pursuit and attack of terrorist organizations that are themselves not nation-states. The beauty of this method is that it does not involve America in nation-building or being the policemen of the world. Instead, we are allowed to focus on the transnational threat of our terrorist enemies. Thomas Jefferson was the last president to use this tool against the terrorist equivalent of the Barbary Pirates.

American forces are already in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of whether it was wise to invade and occupy, our troops are currently serving valiantly under harsh conditions. If we are going to succeed in the war on terror, the mission must change from occupation to reducing the incentive for jihadists. America’s national security interests do not lie in refereeing a centuries old rivalry between Sunni and Shia, but in diffusing their anger toward us. Our very presence on holy Muslim soil fuels the fire of jihad against the United States and unites our enemies against us. We can and should pursue terrorists with the intent of retribution, but should not occupy Muslim lands. Furthermore, if we pay attention to the declaration of war against us by al-Qaeda, we will notice that they fight us because of our continued support for apostate regimes that oppress Muslims. We must stop giving taxpayer money in the form of aid and support to oppressive regimes. The responsibility of the United States Federal government is to protect and defend its own citizens and its own borders. If it fails to do so, our country will soon be brought to its knees economically through proxy wars that we cannot afford."

 - I agree with this statement made by a fellow canidate for Congress.