<span style=”color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, ‘Times New Roman’, Times, serif; font-size: 12px;”>Alpha: Respond to the author’s commentary on “defending the frontier,” if you still think it is a valid perspective, and relate that to the nation’s last two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.</span>

Defending the “frontier” is at all times the primary purpose of the State. To defend your people and the culture you hold dear against those who would exploit weakness. In an uncertain world, credibility is the currency of defense and security. To abandon the frontier because it is not domestically attractive is to invite your enemies to take advantage. This is the mistake pf Korea in 1950. It was the mistake of Al Qaeda operations in the 90s. To0 often we wait for the trumpet of a moral crusade and realize too late that we have already lost the initiative to our enemies. Only by signalling earlier on the frontier can war be avoided. Demonstrate the line that will not be crossed and that you have the will and strength to hold it and few are foolish enough to play a gambit against US power. It is not our strength out enemies question, it is our will.