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Shane Osborn on Homeland Security
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Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal
Question topic: The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Osborn: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Nebraska Senate race
, Jul 2, 2014
Reducing size of military makes us look weak
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has taken his message of shrinking military forces to the people. His plan to cut billions in spending, and reduce the military to its smallest size since World War II is drawing harsh criticism from some.
News 5 spoke with Republican candidate for US Senate candidate Shane Osborn about the cuts. The veteran said he has major concerns. "It's making us look weak and it puts our men and women in uniform in danger. It puts our allies in danger.
There's waste in all aspects of government including defense. That support echelon, things that could be outsourced, they're attacking our war fighters.
We keep re-deploying our men and women, they're worn out, and now to cut back to pre-WWII levels is dangerous," said Osborn.
Source: KHAS TV-5 on 2014 Nebraska Senate race
, Mar 10, 2014
Strong voice for America's Veterans
Shane knows we must keep the promises made to our Veterans and their families. As a Veteran who served in Afghanistan, his training and service in the U.S. Navy provided a firsthand understanding of the challenges confronted by
Veterans and their families, especially the transition back to civilian life.Shane helped launch a company that helps disabled Veterans find jobs and start their own businesses.
He co-founded the Nebraska Soldiers Foundation to help military families cope with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
and is involved with a foundation supporting Navy Seals and their families.
As a U.S. Senator, Shane will be a strong voice for America's Veterans.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.shaneosborn.com
, Oct 9, 2013
Hawkish on defense, but measured response
Osborn said he would be an advocate for a strong national defense. "But, as a veteran, I would be very hesitant to go to war unless we absolutely have to," he said.
"While I will be hawkish on defense, I believe we need to take a very measured approach before we would push Americans into harm's way."
Source: Lincoln Journal Star on 2014 Nebraska Senate race
, Jul 10, 2013
Routinely tracked by Chinese fighter jets while on patrol
We were headed down the coast of Asia to the South China Sea. Once on track, we would fly our surveillance track in international air space south of China's Hainan Island. Our squadron had been flying such missions in this area in one kind of aircraft or
another for decades without serious incident. But we did expect that Chinese fighters would intercept us in international airspace at some point along our track. Once Chinese radar picked us up, their navy would usually dispatch a pair of twin-jet F-8
Finback interceptors from the People's Liberation Army/Navy (PLAN) to look us over.This harassment had been going on for years. On some intercepts during this det [detachment assignment abroad], the Finbacks had given us a quick once-over.
That morning, though, they'd seemed inclined to remain with us.
For the next 45 minutes, the 2 fighters had dogged us, one on our left wing, the other hovering right behind us, as if to make sure we stayed out of Chinese airspace.
Source: Born To Fly by Shane Osborn,p. 97-100
, Nov 13, 2001
Destroyed all computers & paperwork before Chinese capture
[After a mid-air collision over the South China Sea], we were going to land on a runway in a hostile country. "Activate the emergency destruction plan," I called over the PA, "and prepare to ditch."I couldn't see what was going on at the back end, but
I imagined there was some frantic activity. Operators and technicians would snatch up their binders of classified information, erasing any classified digital information on the built-in computers, then smashing the laptop computers with a fire axe.
The final item was dumping the boxes of classified material and smashed computers out the starboard hatch. We were well out to sea. The boxes would sink, and the paper on which the classified information was written would quickly dissolve.
It was a crazy kind of chaos on board. In back, [the crew] were deliberately and frantically destroying everything in sight while in front we were, with equal desperation, trying to save what had already been badly damaged.
Source: Born To Fly by Shane Osborn,p.139-41
, Nov 13, 2001
Page last updated: Sep 05, 2017