We do have an obligation to deter conflict and to prepare for it should it occur.

If there are threats to the United States, then I would of course go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of U.S. military ground force.

You know, we live here in America and sometimes don't understand the realities of geography and demographics in Eastern Europe.

We became consumed with preparing to go on a deployment, going on the deployment, coming back, and getting ready to go again. We stopped sending young men and women to our professional military education when they should have gone. We stopped doing things like command climate surveys. We got sloppy with contracting oversight.

We do have treaty obligations with our NATO allies.