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  • National Security

    The Ideology of Isolationism

    Supporters of Ron Paul have re-launched an old ad promoting the old idea of American isolationism.  “We now are a nation known to start war,” Paul is quoted as saying.  “We feel compelled because of our insecurity that we have to go over and attack these countries to maintain our empire.”  The message here (and repeated elsewhere) is that Paul’s isolationism is aligned with the Founding Fathers and “what is truly American and truly constitutional.” Not only is this refrain a gross misrepresentation of American history but it offers dangerously … More

    Voters in Iowa, New Hampshire Say Federal Budget Deficit Is No. 1 Issue

    New polling data reveals that voters in Iowa and New Hampshire overwhelmingly believe the federal budget deficit is the most important economic issue facing the United States today. Despite the nation’s persistent high unemployment rate, voters in the two early-voting states chose the deficit by wide margins. The CNN/Time/ORC poll was conducted before and after Christmas with 999 registered Republicans in Iowa and a total of 1,508 adults in New Hampshire. The results, released Wednesday, paint a clear picture about what voters are thinking about heading into 2012. They also … More

    CNN Debate Draws Attention to EMP Threat

    Talk of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack at the Republican National Security Debate, hosted on CNN by The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, sparked CNN to interview Heritage’s James Carafano last week to discuss the devastating impacts of an EMP. Unfortunately, the United States remains unprotected from the effects of an EMP. As the video explains, an EMP is a high-intensity burst of electromagnetic energy caused by a rapid acceleration of charged particles. An EMP can disrupt all electronic devices within its zone of impact by burning circuits … More

    Critics Applaud Heritage-AEI-CNN Presidential Debate

    Last week, millions of Americans tuned in to CNN to watch eight presidential contenders debate foreign policy and national security issues live from Washington D.C.’s Constitution Hall. Questions were asked by policy experts from The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, the co-hosts of debate. Critics agree that it was the “most substantive” debate of the season. Here are a few of those reactions. What did you think? Let us know in the comments below! … a substantive debate that brought to the fore differences among candidates on a … More

    Strong National Security–the Prerequisite for Peaceful Commerce

    The slogan “War breeds war. Peace breeds prosperity” has become a favorite idea of the anti-war faction on the right. Unlike their anti-war allies on the left, who favor protectionism, those like Congressman Ron Paul (R–TX) are rightly committed to economic freedom. Their mistake lies in thinking that commerce and security are separate issues. Nothing could be more at odds with the experience of American statecraft. In 1789, the blessings of liberty secured by the Constitution began to manifest themselves (see chart) as imports (light blue) and exports (dark blue) … More

    Chart of the Week: Defense Spending Dwindles Under Obama

    The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute host a Republican presidential debate on CNN this Tuesday at 8 p.m. on the subjects of foreign policy and national security. At a time when domestic issues dominate the headlines, Tuesday’s debate offers an opportunity to refocus our attention on matters of constitutional significance. The Founding Fathers spelled out in the U.S. Constitution that the federal government must provide for the common defense. Yet defense spending has fallen below its 45-year historical average. It is projected to drop to 3.4 percent of gross … More

    Online Chat on the Foreign Policy Debate

    On Tuesday November 22, The Heritage Foundation will co-host a GOP primary debate on foreign policy and national security along with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and CNN. There are several ways you can interact with Heritage on the night of the debate. Click here to join our live “Lunch with Heritage” chat. We are taking your questions about what defense and homeland security threats we should take more seriously, and how we should engage in foreign policy. Lunch with Heritage feat. Jim Carafano

    Constitution Hall to Host GOP Debate

    Republican candidates will gather for a debate on foreign policy and national defense on Nov. 22 at DAR Constitution Hall. The debate, presented by The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute on CNN, will be moderated by Wolf Blitzer. Constitution Hall, located across the street from the White House, was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution for its annual convention. Today it is one of the largest event venues in Washington, D.C. The debate will include eight Republican presidential candidates: businessman Herman Cain, former Massachusetts Gov. … More

    Eight Major GOP Contenders to Debate Foreign Policy and National Security

    The eight Republican presidential candidates have confirmed they will attend the Nov. 22 debate hosted by The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute on CNN. The debate will focus exclusively on foreign policy and national security. The debate will take place in Washington, D.C., at a location to be announced shortly. It will air nationally on CNN and CNN en Español and worldwide on CNN International, CNN Radio and CNN.com. “Heritage is delighted to have this opportunity to increase public understanding of the candidates’ positions on critical foreign policy and … More

    Chart of the Week: Cutting All Defense Spending Would Not Solve Debt Crisis

    House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) is a man on a mission. He’s making the rounds on Capitol Hill to convince his colleagues, particularly those on the 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, that they should avoid cutting defense spending. McKeon has a point — and it’s one that is backed up by Heritage calculations from Congressional Budget Office data. This chart reveals that even if defense spending was eliminated entirely, entitlements would continue to fuel the debt crisis. Making reforms to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is … More