Make no mistake: as defense budgets go down, so does America’s capacity to give its men and women in uniform the tools they need to defend our interests abroad—as well as our ability to sustain the world-class scientists, engineers, designers, and machinists that comprise our defense manufacturing industrial base. The military deserves better than this budget, and so does America.

As the United States continues its defense cuts—even as U.S. forces are still in harm’s way around the world in places like Afghanistan—many in Washington and across America are scratching their heads, wondering why this is a problem.

For conservatives, one of the tests of American virtue has been American strength.  What has made the United States exceptional is not just political principles that are universal in theory, but principles that guide the vigorous exercise of power. Thus, a candidate who would restore America’s greatness must also restore American military power.

Grave challenges face each of America’s armed services: the Navy’s size is shrinking while its operational demands increase; the Army and the Marine Corps are on the chopping block for further troop reductions; and the Air Force is aging rapidly. (INCLUDES VIDEO)

Barack Obama’s presidency has had profoundly negative consequences for our national security. From debilitating cuts in defense budgets, to gutting national missile defense efforts, to his unwillingness to acknowledge a continuing war against terrorism, to his inability to stem the nuclear proliferation threats posed by North Korea and Iran....the picture is bleak.

While there has been growing pressure within Congress to cut defense spending in order to control an exploding deficit, the United States needs a military at least as large as the one it currently employs if it hopes to retain its long-standing posture of global leadership.

The Romney 4 percent Pentagon budget is no “spike”; it’s more like a return to normal, even very constrained military spending given the global mission of America’s armed forces.

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.) has long been on almost everyone's short list for the Republican vice presidential nomination. But now McDonnell's national security credentials have come into question, thanks to his mishandling of a bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly.