Judith

First we learn to live without foreign oil. The instability around the world which threatens us results from the US financing oppressive governments in order to maintain unfettered access to their natural resources so we can maintain our bloated life style.

Let's consider strenthening the military to perhaps a 600 thousand person active Army, a half million person Air Force and Navy and doubling the size of the Marines and Coast Guard. Also doubling the size of the Reserve Component and National Guard for use in state and national emergencies. The cost involved is perhaps impractical since the priorities of our Federal Government is to maintain a status quo, but for arguments sake let's say we do just this.
Now when the military is deployed into harm's way we go to win, period. Yes, this would require occupational forces, but we win, unconditionally. During the last century did we not occupy both Japan and Germany, Martial Law was established, and our will prevailed. Any insurgency or effort to undermine US interests were dealt both swiftly and harshly. These two current world powers turned out well, did they not?

And boy have they been discussed. If I had the answer I wouldn’t be setting in my house in good old Fayetteville. To keep this short, I’m concerned about the stability of the region realizing that, like it or not, this is the world’s oil supply - and battles have been fought for resources.

I would rather be the strongest, than the Nation always looking for a handout from others.