Smith Denounces Obama Administration Stance on Nuclear Deterrent

HIXSON, TN – Third District Congressional Candidate Robin Smith today questioned the wisdom of President Obama’s decision to take America’s nuclear deterrent off the table as a tool to defend the United States from foreign attack.

Tuesday, President Obama announced a restructuring of United States defense policy that will forbid the use of nuclear weapons in response to attacks on American soil.

“This policy is stunningly wrongheaded,” Smith said. “Setting as America’s official defense posture a refusal to consider use of nuclear weapons in response to even a chemical or biological attack harkens back to policies of the Carter administration. In the dangerous world of the 21st Century, returning to 1970’s era failed liberal notions that we can erode our defenses and win favor from our enemies is irresponsible and places Americans at risk. With the rising threat of a nuclear Iran and North Korea already testing nuclear weapons, now is not the time to show weakness on the world stage.”

Smith noted the continuing pattern of weakening America’s national defense under the current administration by stating, “In his first year in office, Barack Obama placed our allies at risk with his refusal to move forward with the ballistic missile defense program in Europe and placed America at risk by slashing funding for ballistic defense systems here at home. Now he emboldens our enemies with a stated policy that they can attack us with any weapon, short of a nuclear device, without fear of a decisive and justified response. As a member of Congress, I will work each day to place our nation in the best possible defense posture and will never sacrifice our safety or security to unrealistic liberal views of the world.”