REDUCE THE WORLDWIDE THREAT OF CONFLICT We must continue to strengthen our own democratic institutions while we help other countries establish and strengthen their own. Establishing and strengthening democracy will reduce the likelihood of the apathy, cynicism, distrust and anger that sometimes lead to armed conflict requiring military intervention. 

• We must pay our share and strengthen the United Nations and international institutions and principles that work on behalf of us all to reduce violence, resolve conflicts among nations and improve the lives of all people in the world

MAINTAIN OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH IN THE WORLD --  Our economic security is heavily tied to our continued technological leadership in today's world economy. Our national policy on education, especially in math and science,  is important to our economic security.

Our national system of public education is the backbone of our country’s future. In addition to its other benefits, its caliber will determine how well we collaborate, negotiate and compete with the educated work forces, military forces, and political leaders of other countries.

• Our work force must have the skills required to:

  • Maintain our economic security in the global marketplace, and

  • Perform the increasingly technical tasks required by our armed forces in order to maintain our military security in the world. 

MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT MILITARY STRENGTH IN THE WORLD --  We must relate our national defense strategy to a clear analysis of current and emerging threats and challenges in a dynamic international environment. These include:

• Committing forces to help shape the international environment in military operations other than war.

• Responding to the likely need for military forces in small scale operations.

• Maintaining readiness for likely large-scale contingencies when they occur.

• Preparing for, and reducing the likelihood of,  the possible longer-term emergence of a global peer competitor.

• Preparing for the contingency of, and reducing the likelihood of, chemical, biological or nuclear terrorist attacks within our own country and our sphere of operations.

MAXIMIZE OUR OVERALL NATIONAL SECURITY We must allocate our limited federal budget resources efficiently among all components of our national security.  This involves a hard look at our international standing and effectiveness in all of the above components. Congress must strengthen existing imbalances in the non military components and demand that the Pentagon requests and spends its resources more wisely and economically in order to keep America safe and secure. 

In order to more more broadly and comprehensively strengthen our national security we must make changes in our national federal budget priorities.  If one makes a pie chart of our federal Discretionary Budget, our current federal priorities are as follows: Of each dollar, we spend 47 cents (approx. $280 billion) on the Pentagon, 6 cents (approx. $37 billion) on education, and 3 cents (approx. $18 billion) on everything  we do internationally to work with and assist other countries.

Our national policy on education is important to our economic security.  Our economic security is heavily tied to our continued technological leadership in today's world economy. Maintaining our economic security, and the funds it provides,  is an important part of our national security.  

If we restructure our military in ways such as those recommended by the Military Advisory Panel of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities we can reallocate  from $45 - $50 billion dollars each year to more broadly and comprehensively strengthen our national security. We can increase our economic security through better educational achievement, especially in areas of science and math. We can also  establish better relations with other countries, help with international development, provide humanitarian assistance, and generally support international institutions to help others employ democratic principles to resolve disputes without resorting to armed violence. These actions will increase our national security by reducing the likelihood of threats to our national security from abroad  so we do not have to commit our Pentagon troops.