Defense & National Security
We cannot bomb our way out of terrorist threats nor can we win the hearts and minds of people by killing them. However, we can reduce that threat and win them over by saving lives and providing opportunities for people in foreign countries to better their lives. When people are educated, healthy, have food on the table, and are working, then they will be able to focus inward and improve their societies rather than blaming us for their problems.
The U.S. defense strategy is outdated in this ever-changing technological age, in which Facebook and Twitter can free more people than all of the Pentagon's hard power. Spending more money on defense does not necessarily make us stronger or safer but spending smart will.
- A temporary draft shall be implemented immediately upon waging a war, for the duration of the war.
- We shall close at least 50% of the overseas military bases over the next two decades.
- We shall freeze all defense spending until the debt is paid off.
- We shall transform our defense and national security emphasis from hard power-focused to a combination of arms and the development of human capital around the world.
- We shall project an aura of security and confidence, instead of frightening our citizens by disproportionately amplifying threats.
- We shall spend at least 20% of the defense budget providing education and eradicating poverty across the globe.
- We shall spend at least 10% of our defense budget on cybersecurity.
- We shall transfer at least 5% of our defense budget to domestic law enforcement to counter threats from militia and potential domestic separatist groups.
- We shall consolidate all 17 intelligence agencies into one.