Crime affects the lives of all Americans, not just those who are its direct victims. Our law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and IRS, must be fair and even-handed. They must not become tools to further political agendas. We must appoint judges who will enforce the law and prosecute crime. The federal government can set the tone by embracing policies that show respect for the rule of law and for those who enforce it.

The United States is a key player in world affairs and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, but we must put the interests of our country first in our dealings with other nations. A compelling national interest must be identified before intervening both diplomatically and militarily in the international arena. Our mission must not be to nation-build. We should defend our allies and support the structures of alliances we’ve created or enabled. America must reevaluate our financial support of the United Nations and eliminate funding for agencies and programs that run contrary to our national interests.

We must fund our military to support our security needs and meet the many challenges ahead. America’s defense spending needs to be cost-effective and limited to programs that directly affect combat effectiveness. We can be more efficient procuring and developing weapons systems and military structures. It’s time to stop the multi-billion-dollar cost overruns and spending on redundant and inefficient systems and programs. We also must take care of our veterans, which includes supporting a more effective Veterans Administration. The military is not a laboratory for social experimentation.