Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren lays out her vision for the military if she is elected preside

[BlueMTexpat]

https://taskandpurpose.com/elizabeth-warren-interview

Editor's note: Task & Purpose is determined to provide readers with the most detailed information possible about how the Democrats running for president would serve as commander in chief if elected.

While the candidates rarely talk about national security issues, we want to drill down on the specifics of how they would address the biggest challenges facing troops, veterans, and military families.

Below, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) answers questions from Pentagon correspondent Jeff Schogol about Iran, the F-35, and whether defense spending would conflict with her plans to expand entitlement programs, such as Medicare.

*************
IMO, this is an excellent read demonstrating that Warren has put real thought into national security issues, not just theoretically, but practically,

*************
Snippets

...
You have said the Pentagon needs to focus on 21st century challenges. The Defense Department believes that means preparing to defeat China and Russia in major wars. Do you agree?

Both China and Russia have invested heavily in their militaries and other tools of national power. Both hope to shape spheres of influence in their own image and ultimately remake the global order to suit their own priorities. But confronting this challenge is not solely or even primarily a question of military competition. China uses its economic might to bludgeon its way on the world stage, for instance, while Russia has prioritized opportunistic harassment and covert attacks. And beyond China and Russia, we face challenges, such as cyberattacks and nuclear proliferation that require much more than a strong military to combat. Others challenges, like climate change, cannot be solved through military action at all.

Addressing these challenges requires prioritization. That starts with cutting our bloated defense budget – identifying which programs actually benefit American security and which merely line the pockets of defense contractors. It also requires us to reinvest in diplomacy and other tools of national power -- because funding a muscular military without robust diplomacy, economic statecraft, support for civil society, and development assistance only hamstrings American national power and undercuts any military gains.

Lastly, with American power increasingly challenged from within and without, we can no longer afford to think of our domestic agenda as separate from our foreign policy. Investments at home strengthen the economy, but they also serve our national security. A stronger economy, a healthier democracy, and a united people -- these are the engines that power our country, and these are the investments that will project American strength and values in the world well into the 21st century.
...
As president, how would you ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs approves disability claims for troops suffering from cancer and other serious ailments due to their exposure to toxins from burn pits and dangerous chemicals?

The prevalence of certain rare cancers has been increasing steadily among military personnel and veterans who have served overseas. It took years for Vietnam veterans to receive treatment for exposure to Agent Orange -- some, including Blue Water Navy veterans, are still fighting for healthcare and benefits -- and some veterans of more recent wars attribute their illness to exposure to toxic burn pits used by the military to dispose of waste.

As president, I will ensure that DOD tracks and records potential toxic exposure by integrating it into the post-deployment checklist. We need to ensure that adequate funding is allocated to research diseases that may be connected to certain kinds of exposure. And we must treat those affected without delay -- we cannot allow today's veterans to wait for earned health care.
...

*************
Many more issues are discussed at this link. It is definitely worth a read.

[marlakay]

1. She is so organized

They have needed to thoroughly go through the military budget for decades but neither party would dare touch it beyond closing a few bases.

[blm]

2. It's too enormous a task for most minds. Not hers.

Not Katie Porter’s.

They are clearheaded on these matters and can pinpoint the corruption and waste.

[BeckyDem]

3. Highly recommend.

Thanks, Blue!