The Washington Examiner | Op-Ed

Rep. August Pfluger and Rep. Zach Nunn | March 4, 2025

Since the beginning of our nation’s history, the core obligation of the federal government has been the common defense of the United States. Central to that mission is the readiness, lethality, strength, and warfighting acumen that make up the foundation of American deterrence. To paraphrase the words of former President Ronald Reagan, if peace and stability are our desired outcome, then America must be strong. We must be strong to deter and defend against aggression and preserve freedom and peace.

Under former President Joe Biden, however, the U.S. witnessed a dangerous, self-imposed erosion of its deterrence capabilities. From the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan to the first major ground war on the European continent since World War II, Biden’s presidency plunged the world into chaos. These failures emboldened America’s adversaries and invited unfettered, brutal aggression. 

The withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 was more than just a poorly executed exit — it was a glaring signal to the world that the U.S. was unwilling or unable to manage global conflicts effectively. The images of desperate Afghans clinging to U.S. aircraft, billions of dollars of military equipment abandoned to the Taliban, and the tragic loss of 13 U.S. service members in a terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport all sent a clear message: American leadership was in retreat...

Read the full Op-Ed by clicking here.