Jodey Arrington: “Before it was cool to quote Ronald Reagan's national security philosophy of peace through strength, there was our first…”

“Before it was cool to quote Ronald Reagan's national security philosophy of peace through strength, there was our first Commander in Chief, George Washington, who, in his first State of the Union address, said, ``. . . to be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.'' See, maintaining a strong national defense is not a new concept. While more war has been diverted, more peace has been kept, and more freedom has been defended by our Nation's armed services, today we risk not only our Nation's security, but the lives of those who serve if we fail to adequately fund our military. The policies and posture of the past 8 years under the previous administration have left our defense arsenal dilapidated, our position in the world diminished, our allies doubtful, and, unfortunately, our enemies even more determined. Our military men and women have faced years of cuts, almost a quarter of our entire military budget, with defense spending at historic lows, over $170 billion, since 2010. So as the world becomes increasingly dangerous and unstable, the government has forced our armed services to do more with less. One of the United States' greatest assets in our national security arsenal and one of the crown jewels of west Texas is Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.…”