My correspondence between my Senators and myself has been continuous the past weeks. I felt it was time to share a two of my letters with you. The letters below are in response to a letter sent to me from Senator Marco Rubio. The complete test of Senator Rubio’s letter is at the end of this blog.
Letter #1
Dear Senator Rubio,
In your recent communication to me you stated, “The United States must maintain its leadership role in the world, which requires a strong national defense and robust intelligence capabilities. When America is strong, peace is more likely than war.”
I agree with you that the United States must maintain its leadership role in the world. To maintain a leadership role in the world other Nations must be able to trust that our signature on an agreement or treaty means we will abide by the words in the treaty or agreement. When Congress allows a sitting President to unilaterally break a treaty or agreement with other Nations the United States loses the ability to maintain a leadership role in the world. No amount of military might can overcome a lack of trust in our government. When other Nations cannot trust us to live up to our word, peace is less likely than war.
The Senate must reverse The President’s actions resulting in our leaving the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Agreement. If change to these agreements (as well as NAFTA) is warranted the United States must work with the other countries toward those changes. The result of the United States abandonment of these agreements is a loss of leadership in the world.
As you stated in your letter, “It is also in the best interest of our national security and economic prosperity to support democracy and uphold the international order that has benefited our nation since World War II.” We do not uphold the international order by retreating from the international dialogue.
Sincerely,
Allen L. Heckman, MAJ, USAF, (Ret)
Letter #2
Dear Senator Rubio,
In a recent communication from your office you stated, “The free nations of the world look to America to champion our shared ideals, vulnerable nations depend on our military capabilities to deter aggression from their neighbors, and oppressed people look to our shores in hopes of finding freedom.”
I have two thoughts in response to your statement.
First, The President with the support of Congress is doing an excellent job of dashing the hopes of oppressed people looking to our shores in hopes of finding freedom. Shame on you.
Second, we do not need to increase military spending to deter aggression against vulnerable nations. Our Nation already spends more money on our military than the next seven countries spend on their military added together. Those countries include, in order of military spending, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United Kingdom, India, France and Japan. The United States spends $2.77 for every $1 China spends on it’s military.
The United States has 19 aircraft carriers to the rest of the world’s 12 carriers. Our 10 largest carriers are also larger and technologically superior to all 12 of the world’s carriers.
The USS Gerald Ford cost almost 10.50 billion dollars to build and the cost to build the next Nimitz Class carrier will exceed that dollar amount. Those dollars would pay for a lot of Medicaid.
Taking money away from Medicare and Medicaid to build more instruments of destruction will go a long way toward dashing the hopes of oppressed people looking to our shores and those living within our shores.
Fund Medicaid and Medicare. Do not increase military spending.
Sincerely,
Allen L. Heckman, MAJ, USAF, (Ret)
Senator Rubio’s letter
Dear Mr. Heckman,
Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts regarding America’s defense and national security policy. Understanding your views helps me better represent the people of Florida in the United States Senate, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
As Americans, we are blessed to live in a nation founded on the principle that all men and women are created equal and endowed by God with rights that cannot be taken away. The free nations of the world look to America to champion our shared ideals, vulnerable nations depend on our military capabilities to deter aggression from their neighbors, and oppressed people look to our shores in hopes of finding freedom.
I believe we have a moral duty as the greatest power in the world to safeguard the values of freedom, justice, and human rights. It is also in the best interest of our national security and economic prosperity to support democracy and uphold the international order that has benefited our nation since World War II. The United States must maintain its leadership role in the world, which requires a strong national defense and robust intelligence capabilities. When America is strong, peace is more likely than war.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve you as your United States Senator. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will keep your thoughts in mind as I consider these issues and continue working to ensure America remains a safe and prosperous nation.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
United States Senator