Topics in the News: Armed Forces Personnel
Chase Oliver on Homeland Security
: Dec 23, 2023
Cut defense spending to pay for college loans
I will immediately end the Federal backing of student loans by asking Congress to make all current loans interest-free, while simultaneously ending all future government-guaranteed loans. I would then make the discharge of interest revenue neutral
by requiring the Department of Defense to cut costs by closing overseas bases and installations and bringing our troops home, instead of engaging in expensive nation-building and peacekeeping missions abroad.
It is only right that the DoD bear part of the cost, as mounting debt is as big a threat to our security as any foreign enemy, Finally, I would allow students to stabilize their financial situations by allowing student loan debt to be
dischargeable in bankruptcy just like any other loan. I want a well-educated populace that can compete with the minds of any other nation, but not at the cost of our nation's financial and retirement security.
Click for Chase Oliver on other issues.
Source: 2024 Presidential campaign website VoteChaseOliver.com
Mike Pence on Homeland Security
: Aug 23, 2023
Supports Reagan Doctrine: peace through strength
We've been the leader of the free world, the arsenal democracy for years. The Reagan Doctrine years ago made it clear, we said, if you're willing to fight the communists on your soil, we'll give you the means to fight them there. So our troops don't
have to fight them.If we give in to Putin to give him his land [in Ukraine], it's not going to be too long for he rolls across a NATO border. And frankly, our men and women of our armed forces are going to have to go and fight him. I want to
let the Ukrainians fight and drive and the Russians back out.
Vladimir Putin has been saying he wants to reestablish the old Soviet sphere of influence. He is a dictator and a murderer and the United States of America needs to stand against
authoritarianism.
Give them a promise that Ukraine will never be an NATO. We achieve peace through strength. And America needs to stand for freedom.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Fox News 2023 Republican primary debate in Milwaukee
Vivek Ramaswamy on Homeland Security
: May 4, 2023
We are way behind; need modern Monroe Doctrine
We need a modern Monroe Doctrine in this country. The dirty little secret, Maria, is that much of our military defense spending in the last several decades has not actually gone to national defense. The reality is, if we do enter a serious conflict, and
I worry that Joe Biden is sleepwalking us into potential nuclear conflict with Russia, and Russia and China being in a military alliance with one another that would mean both nations.
The reality is, we need defense capabilities of the homeland, nuclear defense capabilities, cyber defense capabilities, super
EMP, electromagnetic pulse capabilities, that could take out our electric grid. We are way behind. And so the hallmark of my foreign policy is going to be you don't mess with the homeland. Start with that first.
Click for Vivek Ramaswamy on other issues.
Source: Fox News on 2023 Presidential hopefuls
Nikki Haley on Homeland Security
: Mar 2, 2023
Make our armed forces more powerful and capable than before
I will make America strong at home, we will have safe streets, secure elections and a strong economy that lifts up everyone, not just a select few. I will restore air strength in the world,
I will make our armed forces of the united states more powerful and capable than ever before. Never forget, a strong military doesn't start wars, a strong military prevents wars.
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Source: Speech at the 2023 CPAC Conference in Maryland
Mike Pence on Foreign Policy
: Oct 7, 2020
Trump moved embassy to Jerusalem and destroyed ISIS
President Trump kept his word when we moved the American embassy to Jerusalem. NATO is now contributing more to our common defense than ever before thanks to President Trump's leadership. When President Trump came into office, ISIS had captured an area
of the Middle East, the size of Pennsylvania, but President Trump unleashed the American military and our armed forces destroy the ISIS caliphate and took down their leader, al-Baghdadi without one American casualty.
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Source: 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate in Utah
Mike Pence on War & Peace
: Oct 7, 2020
Trump supports and reveres the troops
PENCE: My son is in captain in the United States Marine Corps. My son-in-law's deployed in the United States Navy. I can assure all of you with sons and daughters serving in our military, President Donald Trump, not only respects, but
reveres all of those who serve in our armed forces and any suggestion, otherwise is ridiculous. Let me also say the American people deserve to know-
HARRIS: There was a counter strike on our troops in Iraq, and they suffered serious brain injuries, and do you know what Donald Trump dismissed them as? Headaches. This is a pattern where he referred to our men who are serving
as suckers and losers. Public reporting said Russia had bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Donald Trump had talked at least six times to Vladimir Putin and never brought up the subject.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate in Utah
Mike Pence on Homeland Security
: Sep 22, 2020
Homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion
[Mike Pence Announcement Speech via Wayback Machine, 2000]: "In addition to defense spending, Congress should lead a national debate on reforming the military by:. (4) bringing an end to the 'don't ask/don't tell' policy of permitting
homosexuals to serve in the armed forces. Homosexuality is incompatible with military service because the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion."
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: FactCheck on 2020 Trump Research Book
Donald Trump on Budget & Economy
: Jun 25, 2019
I alone can fix it, with massive tax cut
The Republican Party nominated a candidate who promised to deliver "a giant, beautiful, massive" tax cut; pass "one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history"; and "not touch Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid."
How would Donald Trump pull off this math-defying act? "I alone can fix it," he had claimed in his nomination speech.
He would erase our debt in eight years by "vigorously eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, ending redundant government programs, and growing the economy," as well by "renegotiating all of our [debt] deals."
What he actually did was cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans and explode our deficit.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Land of Flickering Lights, by Michael Bennet, p.149
Mike Pence on War & Peace
: Mar 1, 2019
Increase defense spending, launch Space Force
We're modernizing our nuclear arsenal, updating missile defense, and President Trump will launch the sixth branch of our armed forces, the United States Space Force. We'll make sure that America is as dominant in space as we are on land and air and sea.
So, we're rebuilding our military, we're restoring the arsenal of democracy, and we're once again giving our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard the resources they need to accomplish their mission and come home safe.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: White House press release, "Remarks at CPAC 2019"
Donald Trump on Homeland Security
: Feb 5, 2019
Withdraw from INF and develop Missile Defense System
We have begun to fully rebuild the military--with $700 billion last year and $716 billion this year. We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share. For years, the US was being treated very unfairly by NATO--but now we have secured a
$100 billion increase in defense spending from NATO allies.As part of our military build-up, the US is developing a state-of-the-art Missile Defense System.
Decades ago the United States entered into a treaty with Russia in which
we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capabilities. While we followed the agreement to the letter, Russia repeatedly violated its terms. That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty.
Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others, or perhaps we can't--in which case, we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: 2019 State of the Union address to United States Congress
Bernie Sanders on Homeland Security
: May 13, 2018
CIA torture policy means US service members get tortured too
Q: You have announced your opposition to President Trump's nominee, Gina Haspel, to be the first woman CIA director. Is it because Haspel was in the CIA when enhanced interrogation techniques, otherwise known by human rights groups as torture, were used?
SANDERS: Well, on this one, I would agree with John McCain, and tell you what our leaders in the armed forces say. If the US condones torture for other people, then that subjects our own men and women who are captured to be tortured as well.
Q: But you didn't have reservations about John Brennan, whom Obama nominated; you voted for John Brennan who was also in the CIA at the same time as Haspel. Whatever reservations you have about Gina Haspel, why didn't they apply to
Obama's nominee?
SANDERS: It's not just the issue of torture. It goes deeper than that. And that is the foreign policy that we have seen from Mr. Trump, which is something that I also strongly disagree with.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: CNN 2018 interviews of 2020 hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Homeland Security
: Apr 16, 2018
Undertake comprehensive audit of Department of Defense
On domestic policy, there are major differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. On foreign policy, not so much. Several months ago, Democrats, with virtually no opposition, gave President Trump every nickel that he wanted in
increased defense spending. At a time [of great domestic needs], there were very few Democrats opposed to Republican efforts to increase military spending by $165 billion over two years.
Democrats, for good reason, vehemently oppose almost everything
Trump proposes, but when he asks for a huge increase in military spending, there are almost no voices in dissent. Why is that? Do we really have to spend more on the military than the next ten nations combined--most of which are our allies? Why do we
dramatically increase funding when the Department of Defense remains the only government agency not to have undertaken a comprehensive audit? Why is there so little discussion about the billions in waste, fraud, and cost overruns at the Pentagon?
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: Where We Go From Here, by Bernie Sanders, p.182-3
Donald Trump on Homeland Security
: Feb 28, 2017
More tools so our military can fight and win
To keep America safe, we must provide the men and women of the United States military with the tools they need to prevent war and--if they must--to fight and to win.I am sending the Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the
Defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history.
My budget will also increase funding for our veterans. Our veterans have delivered for this Nation--and now we must deliver for them.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: 2017 State of the Union address to Congress
Bernie Sanders on Homeland Security
: Sep 5, 2015
Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being
Q: What does Bernie believe about current levels of defense spending?A: While Bernie appreciates a strong defense system, he has also views the cost of endless wars and tremendous peacetime defense spending as detracting from facing "some of the most
pressing economic issues affecting the well-being of ordinary Americans." Bernie firmly rejects any increase to defense spending at the cost of cuts to domestic social spending.
Q: Why is Bernie so concerned with the defense budget?
A: Bernie sees a lack of accountability on defense spending. Explaining his "no" vote on the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which set the military's budget at $560 billion, Bernie expressed concern that "the military is unable to even account
for how it spends all of its money." Bernie also voted against the 2012 and 2013 defense authorization bills, voicing alarm at the size of the defense budget despite the US having withdrawn all military members from Iraq.
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Source: 2016 grassroots campaign website FeelTheBern.org, "Issues"
Donald Trump on Homeland Security
: Jul 21, 2015
1968: Classified 1-Y, medically disqualified for Vietnam
On Sept. 17, 1968, Trump reported for an armed forces physical examination and was medically disqualified, according to the ledger from his local Selective Service System draft board in Jamaica, NY, now in the custody of the National Archives.
The ledger does not detail why Trump failed the exam--the Selective Service destroyed all medical records and individual files after the draft ended in 1973.In recent days, Trump and his campaign have said that he received the medical deferment
because he had bone spurs in his feet. But rather than clear up all questions about why he did not serve in the military during the Vietnam era, they have given shifting accounts that are at odds with the few remaining documents in his Selective
Service file. Trump has given limited information about the nature of his medical ailment from 1968 that left him classified as "1-Y," or unqualified for duty except in the case of a national emergency.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Washington Post, "Questions linger about Trump's deferments"
Marco Rubio on Budget & Economy
: Apr 13, 2015
Freeze spending for everything but defense at 2008 levels
Rubio supports balancing the federal budget within 10 years and has long advocated freezing spending for everything but defense at 2008 levels. This year, the Florida senator proposed raising defense spending.
He voted for the Senate Republican plan, which balances the budget and cuts $4.3 trillion in spending, including funds from Medicare and other programs.
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Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Marco Rubio on Homeland Security
: Mar 24, 2015
Defense spending is most important federal obligation
I believe defense spending is the most important obligation of the federal government. That doesn't mean we throw money away, or we put money in places where it doesn't belong or we fund projects that have no utility. But it does mean that the most
important thing the federal government does for America is defend it.There have been times in our history when we've tried to save money by cutting back on defense spending. Interesting to point out that in times in the past we've taken what they call
a peace dividend--in essence, this idea that the world is no longer unstable or unsafe, and we can now spend less on defense--each and every time, we've had to come back and make up for it later as a new threat emerged. I don't think we can make the
argument that this is a time when the world is stable or peaceful, and yet this is a time of dramatic reductions of defense spending. This is the worst possible time to be reducing our defense spending and yet that is what we are doing.
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Source: Rubio Senate Floor Speech "Defense Spending" (Press release)
Mike Pence on Homeland Security
: Feb 28, 2015
The time has come to dramatically increase defense spending
Pence said that the 2016 election could turn on foreign policy thanks to the missteps of the Obama administration, and called on conservatives to embrace "America's role as leader of the free world.""I believe the time has come to dramatically
increase defense spending to confront the unknowable and knowable threats," Pence said. "Without rebuilding our military, no strategy or innovation, no matter how brilliant, will be sufficient to protect the American people and the sovereignty of the US.
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Source: Washington Times on 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf.
Jill Stein on Homeland Security
: Jul 31, 2014
Burden of fighting is borne by families of lesser means
GI and Veterans' Rights: Support for men and women in the armed forces must go far beyond the rhetoric used to discredit the peace movement in the U.S. today. We believe that the ill-advised and illegal actions of the U.S. administration have
unnecessarily put our troops in harm's way. We further believe that the dangerous burden of fighting the unnecessary war in Iraq, and the wars that may follow, due to the administration's overly narrow and militaristic response to terrorism
is disproportionately borne by families of lesser means. Those who are required to carry out militaristic policies, often with great hardship to themselves, their families,
and even the risk of their lives, deserve our respect and our commitment to adequate compensation and benefits.
Click for Jill Stein on other issues.
Source: Green Party of the United States National Platform
Joe Biden on Homeland Security
: Oct 11, 2012
Special Forces instead of M1 tanks
Q: How you do the budget math and have this increase in defense spending?RYAN: You don't cut defense by a trillion dollars.
BIDEN: Who's cutting it by a trillion?
RYAN: We're going to cut 80,000 soldiers, 20,000 Marines, 120 cargo planes.
We're going to push the Joint Strike Fighter out. We're cutting missile defense. If these cuts go through, our Navy will be the smallest it has been since before World War I. This invites weakness.
BIDEN: Look, we don't cut it. The military says, we need a smaller, leaner Army. We need more special forces. We don't need more M1 tanks.
What we need is more UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called "drones"]. That was the decision of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recommended to us and agreed to by the president.
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Source: 2012 Vice Presidential debate
Mike Huckabee on Homeland Security
: Jan 1, 2008
Fight terrorism by increasing spending on armed forces & CIA
Terrorist enemies plot and train in small, scattered cells, but can be tracked down and eliminated by the CIA, U.S. Special Forces, and the military forces of the coalition countries united to rid the world of this scourge. We can achieve a tremendous
amount with swift and surgical air strikes and commando raids by our elite units. But these operations demand first-rate intelligence. When the Cold War ended, we cut back our human intelligence, just as we cut back our armed forces, and these reductions
have come back to haunt us. I will strengthen both. Right now, we spend about 3.9% of our GDP on defense, compared with about 6% in 1986, under President Ronald Reagan. We need to return to that 6% level. And we must stop using active-duty forces for
nation building and return to our policy of using other government agencies to build schools, hospitals, roads, sewage treatment plants, water filtration systems, electrical facilities, and legal and banking systems.
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Source: America's Priorities in the War on Terror: Foreign Affairs
Howie Hawkins on Homeland Security
: Aug 1, 2006
Halve defense spending & use funds domestically
Q: What does Hawkins think of armed forces spending? A: Budget on all-Defense related spending is about 8 times more than we spend on education in the US. Halve the Defense spending and use it to build the US domestically.
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Source: Email interview on 2006 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org
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