Letter to the Editor

What is a conservative?

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Dear Editor,

A conservative believes that a strong military is a good deterrent to actual combat. Their mantra is to speak softly but to carry a big stick. Military might makes others more hesitant to attack another government if they may have to answer to a super power. Being the world's policeman is annoying to ourselves and others, but it is preferable to 30 terrorist countries who are intent on our demise, which has been the result of looking the other way.

Our administration has cut one trillion dollars out of our military budget, which has significantly weakened our ability to wage war if necessary to defend ourselves.

Their theory is that when we lay down some of our weapons others will do the same and then the world will be a safer place.

There are not a lot of benevolent world leaders out there who are our bosom buddies or are interested in diminishing their military prowess. Our friends can't count on us as they once did. The (Russians) and China don't really like us very much and are very interested in being super powers and have stocked up on weapons in their personal arsenals.

We certainly are war-weary, but dealing with terrorist entities on foreign soil might prevent bombs from landing in our own back yards. The failure to prevent terrorists from (infiltrating) the entire Middle East seems to be detrimental to our safety at a time we are less able to defend ourselves.

It could lead one to think that this scenario was Obama's desired effect. His campaign was heavily funded by international contributions.

Now the president and the secretary of state wants to bomb the Syrian government for using chemical weapons on their own people. Most Americans would agree that using nerve gas is an unspeakably heinous war crime, but given the volatility of the whole Middle East region and the 9-11 anniversary the advisability of military action is questionable. We don't know what would happen next. I do not think the world is a safer place than it was six years ago.

Janine Hall,

McCook, Nebraska

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