Jim Barksdale on War & Peace

No wars of choice without clear purpose & exit strategy

Jim's top priority is keeping Americans safe. At times, American foreign policy choices have led to decisions that have ultimately not made us safe, like the disastrous 2003 Iraq War that Jim vigorously opposed.

The Iraq War cost way too much in American lives, distracted our focus from Afghanistan and finding Osama Bin Laden. The resulting instability has left the United States in the middle of a religious conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims and given rise to ISIS.

The war, paid for with borrowed money, also put significant pressures on our long term debt and short term deficits, and will continue to have significant budget consequences for the foreseeable future. It also put pressures on our VA system that must be addressed.