A commander in chief with military experience might be able to prod a conservative military into thinking more imaginatively.

He's going to run on the idea that he's the commander-in-chief, that it's about his patriotism, that he kept us safe after 9/11, ... The time has passed in America when this party can be the party of compassion and let the executive branch run foreign policy.

I will strengthen them so that we can solve problems together, so that the use of military force is our last resort, not our first, and if America must act with force we can call on the military, financial, and moral resources of others.

That's why I believe that you need a candidate who's got foreign policy experience and also can lead on domestic issues. That's why I'm running.

Operations must have sound, achievable political aims. ... But there are also requirements for police activities ... and the fact is that most militaries are simply not capable of performing such functions effectively and should not be the primary element responsible for them.

We've hit at his power plants because they're essential to running every part of his military machine, ... and this has proven to be effective.