The Daily Caller

The Daily Caller
Opinion

Reagan had it right on national security

12:00 AM 04/08/2010
Rep. John Fleming

The United States needs to be looking forward, as President Reagan was, focusing on the modernization and recapitalization of America’s armed forces and an aging nuclear weapons complex, expanding missile defense systems, and increasing investment in crucial long range strike technologies such as the next generation bomber. These types of policies would strengthen a much needed deterrent, reassure our partners and allies, and in the end, result in a more peaceful and stable world. By unilaterally announcing an unprecedented shift in American nuclear policy, we are acting as an agent of destabilization.

This is the latest in what has become a dangerously troubling pattern of policy shifts from the Obama administration. This president said no to missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic. He’s about to limit our delivery systems of both conventional and nuclear weapons in a new deal with the Russians and he continues to put forth significant budget cuts in national defense spending – cuts that will have a profound effect on our ability to wage two wars and maintain military readiness.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I work daily to ensure our men and women have the resources they need to protect this country, and I continue to be dismayed by the national security policies coming out of this White House. Simply put, President Obama is disadvantaging the United States one step at a time and undermining this country’s national defense on purpose. Whether he is catering to the anti-war leftists or truly doing what he thinks is best for our security, the president is leading this nation down a very dangerous path.

John Fleming is a physician and small-business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and previously served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy.

Tags: Barack Obama, Charles Krauthammer, Chicago, Czech Republic, Europe, Fundraiser, House Armed Services Committee, Illinois, Louisiana, National missile defense, Nuclear disarmament, Nuclear technology, Nuclear warfare, Nuclear weapons, Obama administration, Poland, Politics, President, Punahou School alumni, Ronald Reagan, United States, United States Navy, War_Conflict, Weapon of mass destruction, White House

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  • logic

    This is more Republican/neocon chest thumping that they are the party that cares about national security. What it really means is that they fervently believe in being the world police and perpetual war, and want to foster the military industrial complex. What they conveniently ignore is that they preach fiscal conservatism at home (which is a joke given their record), while spending with wild abandon abroad as if we can afford it. They will not wrap their minds around the facts that our foreign aid and constant intervention in the affairs of other nations have created more adversaries than our good deeds have created allies. A neoconservative foreign policy is the last thing Republicans have to cling to, for they have nothing with actual substance to offer.

  • Moses2317

    Wow, the Republican party really is unhinged. We now have a sitting Republican Congressman accusing our President of treason for absolutely no reason. This is beyond disgusting and yet another exampe of why even level-headed conservatives can no longer support today’s Republican party.

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  • JilliB

    It appears that Mr. Fleming is referring to the mythical Ronald Reagan created by republicans. You know, the one that was for smaller government and reducing the deficits and spending – instead of the real Reagan who was successful at neither.

    I also suppose Mr. Fleming disagrees with Mr. Reagan when he said…

    I can’t believe that this world can go on beyond our generation and on down to succeeding generations with this kind of weapon on both sides poised at each other without someday some fool or some maniac or some accident triggering the kind of war that is the end of the line for all of us. And I just think of what a sigh of relief would go up from everyone on this earth if someday–and this is what I have–my hope, way in the back of my head–is that if we start down the road to reduction, maybe one day in doing that, somebody will say, ‘Why not all the way? Let’s get rid of all these things.’
    Ronald Reagan, May 16, 1983

    Most of the people have been hearing in political dialog from one side, since we’ve been here in the 3 1/2 years, that I somehow have an itchy finger and am going to blow up the world. And that has all been duly reported by so many of you that that is the tone that the people have been getting. And it doesn’t do me any good to tell you that, having seen four wars in my lifetime, I don’t know of anyone, in or out of government, that is more determinedly seeking peace than I am. And my goal is the total elimination of nuclear weapons. If we can get those fellows back to the table and get them to start down that road of mutual reduction, then they might find out what common sense it would mean to eliminate them.”
    Ronald Reagan, Press Conference, May 22, 1984

    It is my fervent goal and hope…that we will some day no longer have to rely on nuclear weapons to deter aggression and assure world peace. To that end the United States is now engaged in a serious and sustained effort to negotiate major reductions in levels of offensive nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal of eliminating these weapons from the face of the earth.
    Ronald Reagan, October 20, 1986

    As I have indicated in previous statements to the Congress, my central arms control objective has been to reduce substantially, and ultimately to eliminate, nuclear weapons and rid the world of the nuclear threat. The prevention of the spread of nuclear explosives to additional countries is an indispensable part of our efforts to meet this objective. I intend to continue my pursuit of this goal with untiring determination and a profound sense of personal commitment.
    Ronald Reagan, March 25, 1988

    Mr. Fleming, if you’re what passes for intelligent, informed republicans, your party is is worse shape than I thought.

    This is nothing but a vomit pile of ridiculousness. Accusing the sitting President of treason is not only laughable, but insulting to Americans with live brain cells.

  • Frank Sharp

    So let me get this straight, Mr. Fleming.

    You are essentially accusing the President of treason. I think that is beyond the pale. I am so tired of all the seditious vomit coming out of the Republican party these days.

    Time for you all to start working with all your fellow Americans on the real problems we face instead of this kind of stupidity.

  • camp906

    Break the backs of the people with debt. Give potential enemies an advantage over us while alienating allies. What will be next? Not jobs I bet.

  • elyriaohio

    How large of a biological/chemical attack on our soil would warrant a Nuclear response? One hundred casualties? A thousand? Wouldn’t ANY nuclear response trigger a nuclear war?
    Oh yeah, don’t use Reagan. He wanted universal nuclear disarmament.
    What a goofy editorial.

    • libertyatstake

      Reagan’s vision of “universal nuclear disarmament” was “aspirational” – and he knew it. Thus the distinction between Reagan and Barry – Reagn never stepped into the mistake of “unilateral disarmement.”

      What a goofy comment.

      http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
      [For a light hearted take on our present peril]

      • elyriaohio

        God forbid the world “aspires” to do something besides butcher each other.

        • libertyatstake

          Try to say something useful in our actual universe next time.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Canaan/666670819 Terry Canaan

        “Reagn never stepped into the mistake of ‘unilateral disarmement.’”

        Yeah, neither did Obama. It might help if you actually got informed of the facts, rather than go public with your ignorance.

        As far as Rep. Fleming’s accusation of treason on the part of the president goes, it just shows how removed from reality the GOP has become. It used to be that only the most extreme talk radio brainwashed nutjobs talked this way. Now they all do.

        • libertyatstake

          Do not lecture me about “facts,” Obama Zombie.

          1) Obama has clearly signaled a posture of unilateral disarment in his reported change to US Nuclear Posture Review – i.e. “…the the United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons…” – as even the report from this biased MSM outlet makes apparent to any sentient reader – http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001879-503544.html.

          2) Nice job flooding the board with fellow Zombies to fix the thumbs up and thumbs down. Kinda silly, actually. See you downtown on April 15 at the TEA Party if youy have the fortitude to show up.

          3) Treason is as treason does.