Texas Perry: U.S. commanders should lead combat troops America should avoid policy of 'military adventurism'

By Will Weissert Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry discussed foreign policy Monday, telling the nation's oldest major veterans organization that U.S. forces must be led by American commanders rather than "multilateral debating societies." Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars' annual convention in San Antonio, the Texas governor urged the United States to renew its commitment "to taking the fight to the enemy before they strike at home," as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. He drew sustained applause from the hundreds of veterans in a cavernous, concrete-floored convention hall when he said no one but U.S. brass should be leading American troops in missions abroad. "It's not our interest to go it alone. We respect our allies and we must always seek to engage them in military missions. But at the same time, we must be willing to act when it is time to act. We cannot concede the moral authority of our nation to multilateral debating societies, and when our interests are threatened American soldiers should be led by American commanders." And the U.S. should avoid a policy of "military adventurism," he cautioned. "We should only risk shedding American blood and spending American treasure when our vital interests are threatened, and we should always look to build coalitions among the nations," Perry said. Perry was invited to speak on behalf of the convention's host state before he formally entered the presidential race Aug. 13. He travels to Tulsa, Okla., as part of his campaign later Monday. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is scheduled to address the VFW convention Tuesday. An Air Force veteran, Perry flew C130s from 1972 until 1977, though he never saw combat. Earlier this month in Iowa, Perry said one of the reasons he's running for president is to ensure "every young man and woman who puts on the uniform of the United States respects highly the president of the United States." Perry avoided such hot-button sentiments Monday, but suggested that the Vietnam War showed what could happen when soldiers are "called to war that our leaders were not prepared to win because they were not prepared to use the full force of the military of the United States." Published: Tue, Aug 30, 2011