Former Texas governor and potential GOP presidential contender Rick Perry spoke to a room full of Iowans on Wednesday about national security and foreign policy. Perry was the first speaker in a series put on by the Iowa chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Peace, and Security.
Several topics were touched on that Perry addressed in his Lincoln Dinner speech a few days ago: ISIS, more military funding, and the lack of initiative from the Obama administration in foreign affairs. Perry capitalized on other topics as well, and was pressed on his position of the National Security Agency’s surveillance of Americans’ phones and emails.
“Since the formation of this country,civil liberties versus protecting our citizens have always been trying to find that appropriate balance,” said Perry. “And I would suggest that is still the case today with the National Security Agency we have out there.”
Perry did not go so far as to say he would not use the NSA to tap phone records, but further reiterated his point on striking a balance of privacy.
“Obviously looking into individual private phone calls where there is absolutely no evidence that they are involved in anything other than ordering pizza from the Pizza Ranch is inappropriate,” said Perry.
Perry also was asked by an audience member what he would do about Iran and its nuclear capabilities. Perry firmly stood on the other side of the Obama administration’s policy.
“I can’t for the life of me understand why we are negotiating with Iran,” said Perry. “This is the country that is responsible for killing our marines in Beirut and supplied weapons that killed our soldiers in Iraq. So I would not negotiate with them. No deal is better than a bad deal.”
Perry drove home the point of his military experience as an Air Force pilot 1970’s for the need to bulk up America’s military presence and funding.
“It’s a personnel issue, it’s an equipment issue, it’s a training issue,” said Perry. “Everyone knows you can’t go from zero to 120 in this business.”
Perry also said these military changes don’t happen overnight.
“We have to recognize the component of time,” said Perry. “It just takes time to build our military back up, and that’s what I’m greatly concerned about.”
