America has long stood as the world’s bulwark of freedom, facing down the Soviet Union in the Cold War and presiding since World War II over the shaping of a world order conducive to the spread of wealth and freedom. Increasingly, this is threatened by the rise of communist-ruled China and its despotic cohorts such as Russia, Iran and North korea. This is the basic showdown of our time, requiring a strong defense and dedication to America’s role as leader of the Free World — a role in which we take pride.
