From Hope to Higher Ground: on War & Peace

Strength is more effective deterrent to war than weakness

A true leader shares his power rather than shows his power. True greatness is revealed by humility rather than hubris. Fear can be obtained by a gun, but true respect can only be earned by using one’s strength for unselfish service. Jesus reminded us that if we really want to be great, we must be willing to serve rather than to be served, and that the spirit of our actions is as important as the actions themselves.

I would never want to sacrifice one particle of America’s power. Ronald Reagan had it right when he led this country to unprecedented military strength. Our best defense is a military so well equipped and so well trained that no one wants to challenge it. Strength is a far more effective deterrent to war than is weakness, and the US should never be apologetic for the development of the strongest military forces on the face of the earth. But with the development of strength and unprecedented power there must also be unprecedented restraint.

Source: [X-ref Homeland Sec.] From Hope to Higher Ground, p.133 Jan 4, 2007

Make sure we finish the job in Iraq and finish it right

There has been plenty of second-guessing as to whether the US should have invaded Iraq. Regardless of where members of Congress now stand, in the days leading to our invasion of Iraq, there was a consensus from both Democrats & Republicans that Saddam di have weapons of mass destruction. There was a wholesale belief that he would unhesitatingly use them against the US if he had the opportunity, and would gladly assist terrorists who sought to repeat the horrific attacks of Sep. 11.

It may well be that the intelligence on which the decision was made was incomplete or flawed, but had we failed to topple Saddam’s empire and he had utilized WMDs against us, there would have been an even greater anger that we failed to act.

Now that we have gone to Iraq, one thing is certain--we need to make sure that we finish the job and finish it right. If we were to pull out prematurely and allow tyranny to be restored to that nation, the ripple effect throughout the Middle East and the world would be profound.

Source: From Hope to Higher Ground, by Mike Huckabee, p.134-136 Jan 4, 2007

The above quotations are from From Hope to Higher Ground 12 STOPs to Restoring America's Greatness, by Mike Huckabee, Jan. 2007. Click here for definitions & background information on War & Peace. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Mike Huckabee on War & Peace.
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