Nebraska has a proud tradition of supporting our troops and providing our nation with some of our best and brightest to protect us. The troops on the ground in Iraq are doing a tremendous job. We are proud of their tireless service and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Our troops deserve our respect. In order to respect them and their service fully, we need to continue to have a serious discussion regarding the direction of this war.

There is no doubt Al Qaeda exists in Iraq today. As a result, it is important that in the effort to defeat terrorism around the globe we must continue to fight Al Qaeda and other terrorists in Iraq – as long as they continue to pose a threat to our national security.

I am not for setting an arbitrary date for troop withdrawal. I prefer the accountability approach – transferring the accountability for security and military operations to the Iraqi government. When they are able to make progress in providing for their own security, we will find the opportunity for an honorable strategy to exit.

But critical missions remain in Iraq – we are building a $1 billion embassy in Baghdad. We need to protect those assets and personnel. We should continue to fight Al Qaeda there. And we should assist the Iraqi’s with maintaining their border integrity, especially as threats from Iran and others increase.

We must move away from the polarizing debate of “stay the course” vs. “immediate withdrawal.” The current course is not working, and an immediate withdrawal would lead to greater unrest in the country, adversely affecting the stability of the entire region.

Our focus in Iraq must be on our national security interests. These interests include fighting terrorists, protecting the border, ensuring the safety of our personnel, safeguarding our assets and training Iraqi soldiers. By transforming the mission, we will be able to free up troops and resources, bringing some home and moving some to other critical areas.

Our nation faces considerable global concerns that do not rest solely on Iraqi soil. Continued destabilization in countries such as Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, and Syria provide new threats each day. These new challenges deserve more than a rubber stamp approval, they demand new leadership with new ideas.

A strong national defense requires robust and modern armed services. Our military needs the resources and equipment to do their job effectively. We must ensure that they have everything that they need to accomplish their varied missions throughout the world and come home safe.

We need more allies throughout the world. By uniting our friends and dividing our enemies, we will be more effective in facing global challenges. We share many common interests with countries throughout Europe and elsewhere, yet we have turned off many by refusing to come to the diplomatic table.

In order to be more secure, America needs a stronger economy and society. We need to return to an era of financial discipline and work to unite all Americans around our common goals. By improving the lives of our citizens through better jobs, quality education, affordable and accessible health care and a reduced cost of living, we can return America to a position of strength at home and throughout the world.