Jason Chaffetz gives an in-depth interview regarding veterans and national defense.
September 23, 2008 Provo, Utah
Andrew Wilson, publisher UtVet.com
Today Jason Chaffetz, Republican candidate for Utah's Third Congressional District,told UtVet that he felt that the US could not be the "world's policemen" nor should we be in the business of "nation building" but America has turned into both.
He said that we should always be the world's premier super power. "We need to have the very best equipment, the very best intelligence, and that we take care of our troops; but I don't know that we have been achieving all three." In the past we have had troops that were not prepared to go into battle because they didn't have the proper equipment, like kevlar flak jackets.
Chaffetz says that the best intellegence is crucial to our international success and that while many budget items must be cut, he is completly unwilling to cut the budget for defense or intellegence. "I will do anything and everything to assure that [these needs are met.]" Utah's National Guard unit currently serving in Afghanistan is the best in the nation when it comes to intelligence."
(He is referring to The 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, known as Task Force Wasatch. Read a page from the Trib. featuring Col Derek Tolman, Battalion Commander here. editor)
Taking care of the troops is crucial. "A strong national defense, a core conservative belief, is defined as the good men and women who serve." Chaffetz says he knows a National Guardsman who had to wait nine months for the VA to process his paperwork. "I know there are a lot of good men and women serving at the VA but they are simply overwhelmed. Providing resources to solve these issues is a tier one priority."
When asked his position on deploying sensor fuzed cluster bombs, banned by treaty in one hundred eleven nations he said "War is tough. A politically correct war is a lost war. We can not take a weapon system off the table if doing so impedes our ability to win. It's either us or them and I want to play to win."
When asked about the foreign policy implications of demonstrating to the world that the United States has successfully deployed a "Star Wars" missle defense shield Chaffetz declared "I love that! I'm very much in favor of a Star Wars program. This is another example of where the United States must always be number one. 
Our supremacy is why we enjoy such a secure lifestyle here. Protecting our nation is paramount. Its the primary mission of the (federal government) to protect the United States."
"We need to have more people involved (in our national defense) but that is going to take some more compensation." He also said that he believes that we must have a committment to bring our troops home; but not on a tight schedule.
He spoke of the modern needs for special forces, tactical forces, people who can respond at a moments notice anywhere in the world. But, he said, that does not mean we need tens of thousands of troops billeted in Japan, Germany, South Korea.
"In Iraq what we need is a political solution. We have won the war. But General Patreus says that eighty percent of the soldiers time is spent on things other than the military mission. This alone tells us we need a political solution. We need to turn control of the country over to the Iraqis. It's not the troops, its the political side of the equation that has failed."
Chaffetz showed candor and confidence in admitting he knew little about the new embassy complex in Bahgdad that is ten times the size of any other American embassy. (Read about the fortress embassy here) This fortress embassy compound covers 104 acres. He simply said, I'm not familiar with that. I'll have to dig a little deeper into the subject." (Good job, Jason. aw)
Without hesitation he said he was fully opposed to mandatory national service. "I would encourage kids to consider voluntary service. It's not the proper role of the federal government to dictate that they have to give up a couple of years of their lives... If the life of the nation was at risk and the efforts of every man woman and child was required, then Yes. But we are not at that point right now." When spoofed about this position qualifing him as a draft protestor in the 60s he chuckled and said "Yeah, I'm glad we don't have to live through that again."
Jason Chaffetz can be reached at jason@chaffetz.com
Andrew Wilson can be reached at UtahVet@gmail.com
